Trigg Minerals and Metso Complete Antimony Smelter Concept Study

Trigg Minerals (ASX: TMG, OTCQB: TMGLF) has finalised a conceptual study with Metso, confirming the design of a state-of-the-art antimony smelter using proven Ausmelt TSL technology. The plant is envisaged to produce 5,000 tpa of >99.65% pure antimony ingot and antimony trisulfide, positioning it as one of the few mine-to-metal antimony supply chains outside China and Russia.

Energy & Environmental Advantages

• Low energy footprint: Estimated annual consumption around 4,000 MWh—substantially lower than conventional methods.

• Best-practice environmental controls: Includes advanced off-gas cleaning, sulphur scrubbing, water treatment, and options for beneficial re-use of slag. All designed to minimise harmful emissions and support net-zero ambitions.

Strategic Importance & Efficient Design

• Defence-critical: Antimony trisulfide is indispensable in over 300 types of U.S. munitions.

• Modular and expandable design to meet rising U.S. antimony demand.

• Compact footprint of 20–25 acres, aligning with Trigg’s patented land at the Antimony Canyon Project (ACP) in Utah.

• Accelerated development timeline: The study supports a pathway to commissioning within approximately 2 years, if approvals proceed smoothly.

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Booming Antimony Market: Entrenched Supply Risks and Price Surge

• China’s export restrictions: In 2024, China imposed tight controls on antimony exports—including an outright ban to the U.S.—citing national security. These restrictions extend to ores, metals, oxides, and dual-use technologies.

• Dramatic price escalation: Antimony prices surged by ~300% in 2024, reaching highs around US$60,000/tonne in Rotterdam; pricing continues to climb amid supply shortages.

• Supply concentrated in China: China accounts for nearly half of global output and over 60% of U.S. imports, amplifying vulnerability to policy shifts.

This market backdrop creates a significant supply-demand imbalance, as Western industries and governments seek secure, domestic antimony sources to insulate from geopolitical risk.

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Trigg’s Antimony Canyon Project: A Strategic Opportunity

• Prime U.S.-based asset: The Antimony Canyon Project comprises 49 unpatented lode mining claims in Utah—a mining-friendly, infrastructure-rich jurisdiction with year-round access.

• Exploration potential: Historical sampling shows widespread mineralisation over a 5 km × 3 km footprint, with peak assays up to 11.55% Sb and many samples exceeding 0.1% Sb. Modern exploration work is ongoing, including geological mapping, trenching, channel sampling, and target drilling aimed at delivering a JORC-compliant resource.

• Strategic land acquisition: Trigg recently secured 20 new patented mining claims spanning 375 acres, giving them surface and mineral rights, streamlining development and permitting.

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Amid rising global antimony prices and supply disruptions, Trigg Minerals’ Antimony Canyon Project is exceptionally well-positioned to:

• Meet surging U.S. demand for a mineral critical to defence and clean technologies.

• Deliver a secure, domestically based high-purity supply.

• Leverage tight supply dynamics and geopolitical shifts to attract strategic partners and financing.

With the Metso study underpinning feasibility and a fast-tracked development pathway, Trigg is at the forefront of a rare and compelling opportunity in the critical minerals space.

Trigg Minerals Managing Director Andre Booyzen commented: “This is a breakthrough moment for Trigg Minerals and for the future of antimony supply in the United States. The Metso Ausmelt concept study confirms that we can build a modern, energy-efficient smelter that meets the highest environmental standards while consuming significantly less electricity than conventional designs. We are proud to be advancing a project that not only secures a critical mineral supply chain but also sets a new benchmark for clean and responsible metals production. Together, these innovations underpin Trigg’s zero harm philosophy — protecting people, the environment and local communities while delivering strategic metals security.”