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Never underestimate the resourcefulness of Americans—especially those hailing from Alaska. Demonstrating this spirit of innovation, Felix Gold Company Ltd, the operator of the Treasure Creek project in Alaska’s interior, has unveiled a groundbreaking method for smelting antimony. This new approach streamlines the transition from ore to metal, eliminating several steps and enhancing both speed and efficiency.
This development underscores the critical importance of metal supplies to national security, extending beyond mere economic considerations. Antimony, in particular, plays a vital role in various industries. It is essential for manufacturing lead-acid batteries, which power vehicles. Additionally, it is used in flame retardants, a range of alloys including those for solders and bullets, as well as in semiconductors, plastics, glass, ceramics, and explosives.
The linked article provides a detailed graphic illustrating this innovative direct smelting process. Efforts are already in motion to implement this new technique, promising significant advancements in the field.
Recent test work carried out at independent labs indicates that hand-sorted stibnite from the NW Array target can exceed typical military-grade concentrate specifications and be processed into high-purity antimony metal through either direct smelting or hydrometallurgical methods.
“Start with the ore. It can be excavated, hand-sorted, and delivered as high-grade feed, now shown to exceed U.S. military-grade concentrate specifications as direct ore,” said Felix Gold Executive Director Joseph Webb. “There are no known sources, to the company’s knowledge, of military-grade antimony concentrate in the Western world – and this exceeds that threshold straight out of the ground.”
This points out once again how crucial metal supplies are to national security, not just an economic issue. Antimony has many uses; it is crucial in making lead-acid batteries, which your car or truck uses. It’s used in flame retardants, in various alloys from solders to bullets, in semiconductors, plastics (as a flame retardant), and in glass, ceramics, and explosives.
Here’s a graphic, from the linked article, describing this new direct smelting process:
— Ward Clark (@TheGreatLander) March 29, 2026
Work is already underway to start up this new process.
This approach could enable development of a relatively small-scale operation at NW Array, about 15 miles north of Fairbanks, focused on selectively mining and shipping high-grade material for processing into antimony used in ammunition, batteries, flame retardants, semiconductors, and other applications.
To advance this concept, Felix recently secured a 1,600-ton bulk sampling permit from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (see related story in the current edition of North of 60 Mining News). The company is mobilizing equipment and crews to begin extracting and sorting high-grade stibnite, with work expected to begin in the coming weeks.
The company is already mobilizing equipment and crews to begin extracting and sorting high-grade stibnite from NW Array, which is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.