US Opens Antimony Pilot Plant to Secure Domestic Supply for Military Applications

On July 29, 2026, a new modular mineral processing pilot plant was inaugurated at the Idaho National Laboratory to produce military-grade antimony from domestic sources. Developed by Perpetua Resources in collaboration with the U.S. Army and INL, the facility aims to demonstrate the production of high-quality antimony trisulfide, critical for ammunition and other defense applications. This initiative responds to the U.S. reliance on foreign antimony, particularly after China ceased supplying specialized trisulfide in 2021. The pilot plant will process samples from Perpetua's Stibnite Gold Project, which is the only identified domestic reserve of antimony. The project is part of a broader strategy to enhance national security by establishing resilient supply chains for critical minerals. Officials emphasize the importance of this facility in reducing dependency on foreign sources and strengthening military readiness.

Key Points: • A pilot plant for producing military-grade antimony opened at Idaho National Laboratory. • The facility aims to demonstrate domestic production of antimony trisulfide for defense applications. • This initiative addresses U.S. reliance on foreign antimony, particularly from China and Russia.