Equinox Resources claims highest-ever naturally occurring antimony grade at Alturas Project

Equinox Resources Limited (ASX: EQN) has stunned the mineral exploration community with record-breaking antimony assay results from its Alturas Antimony Project in British Columbia, Canada. With assay readings reaching up to 69.98% antimony, the highest naturally occurring antimony grade recorded globally, the Alturas Project is fast becoming one of the world’s most exciting critical mineral deposits. This breakthrough comes amid a global surge in antimony demand, driven by recent export restrictions from China.

According to Equinox Resources, rock chip samples collected from the Alturas site returned ultra-high antimony assays, including grades of 67.96%, 49.98%, and 45.55%. These values approach the 71.4% antimony purity of stibnite, the primary antimony ore, marking Alturas as a geological rarity with unprecedented mineral concentration. Managing Director Zac Komur described the discovery as “extraordinary,” emphasizing that the Alturas Project’s exceptional assay results underscore its potential to become a major source of high-grade antimony for the global market.

Rising Demand Amid Supply Constraints: China’s Export Restrictions Impact Prices

Since Equinox Resources secured an option agreement for the Alturas Project in September 2024, the price of antimony has soared to USD 36,000 per metric ton, up from around USD 24,000. China, the world’s largest antimony producer, introduced export controls in September, curbing global supply and intensifying market pressure on this critical mineral. Antimony’s uses extend beyond industrial applications; it is vital in the production of ammunition, missile guidance systems, and photovoltaic solar cells. This heightened demand is elevating Alturas’ potential value, making the project an increasingly strategic asset.

Equinox Resources’ decision to acquire additional land adjacent to Alturas further strengthens its position. The company has staked 3.3 square kilometers of additional ground along the primary mineralized shear zone, enhancing exploration opportunities across the high-priority terrain. This strategic expansion aligns with Equinox’s goal to systematically explore Alturas’ mineral potential, including copper mineralization observed in malachite-stained rock chips with grades up to 0.96% copper.

Uncovering a Unique Polymetallic Asset

The Alturas Project is positioned in British Columbia’s Slocan Mining Division, known for its favorable geological setting. Alongside antimony, the 1.5-kilometer shear zone hosts potential for copper and silver. Alturas covers the historic Alps-Alturas mine, which produced high-grade antimony from 1916 to 1926 with grades averaging 57.2%. Equinox Resources’ latest reconnaissance campaign included detailed mapping and sampling along this shear zone, which has produced 14 samples with antimony concentrations over 10%.

Patrick McLaughlin, a Competent Person and consultant to Equinox Resources, stated that the project’s assay results highlight the unique mineral potential of Alturas, noting that the high concentrations of antimony signify significant value in an underexplored mineral region. McLaughlin emphasized that the findings could herald the start of more detailed exploration and development initiatives aimed at unlocking Alturas’ full potential.

A Look Ahead: Future Exploration and Market Impact

Equinox Resources is actively planning further exploration to delineate Alturas’ resource potential. This includes comprehensive drilling to assess depth and lateral extensions, focusing on high-grade mineral zones within the property’s mineralized shear structure. The company is also engaging with local communities and environmental authorities to ensure that exploration efforts align with regional sustainability standards.

As global demand for critical minerals intensifies, Equinox Resources’ Alturas Project represents a potentially transformative asset for the antimony market. This historic assay result could significantly influence the company’s growth trajectory, particularly as supply constraints continue to pressure antimony prices. By advancing exploration at Alturas, Equinox Resources stands poised to contribute substantially to a constrained global antimony supply, offering an attractive opportunity for stakeholders invested in the critical minerals sector.