Locksley advances US collaboration to push Mojave REE-antimony development forward

Locksley Resources is actively pursuing collaborative opportunities with US labs to co-develop and licence novel technologies linked to its critical mineral assets.

Locksley Resources is looking to build partnerships with leading US laboratories and federally aligned programs. Pic: Getty Images

• Locksley is targeting engagement with US federal agencies to align the company’s Mojave project with America’s critical minerals strategy

• Discussions are underway with the US Department of Energy, Department of Defense and Critical Minerals Institute

• The company aims to utilise mining technologies to unlock processing pathways and downstream innovations

Special report: Locksley Resources has seen a tidal wave on interest since it began exploration at the Mojave project in California, literally on the doorstep of the US’ only active rare earths mine.

Now it is actively pursuing collaborative opportunities with US laboratories to co-develop and licence novel technologies linked to its critical mineral assets.

Areas of engagement range from mining and ore processing enhancement to downstream applications aligned with industrial, consumer and defence related innovation.

Locksley (ASX:LKY) is advancing a range of initiatives including bench scale metallurgical and separation test work to enhance processing pathways for REEs and antimony, assessments of integration pathways into US based downstream supply chains and engagement with federally supported pilot programs or feedstock supply opportunities.

The company views its Mojave project in southeastern California not only as a high-potential exploration asset but also as a prospective strategic supply source for rare earths and antimony in the US.

Huge prospectivity

It sits just 1.4km from MP Materials’ Mountain Pass mine, the only producing rare earths mine in the US a key strategic asset for the Trump Administration.

That strategic angle has only gotten sharper since the Chinese Government lobbed restrictions on heavy rare earth exports in response to Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs.

There’s also strong momentum to develop new deposits, with government officials campaigning for rare earth exploration assets in and around Mountain Pass and Mojave.

Mojave’s North Block has antimony potential as well, another critical metal, hosting the historical Desert antimony mine. That deposit was only in production for about three years almost a century ago, a time where the price and supply thematic were far less favourable for miners

LKY considers the Desert mine to be a potential flagship asset with antimony grades from surface samples reaching up to 46% antimony and 1022g/t silver with associated lead and zinc.

At the El Campo prospect to the south, which is surrounded by and ~5km along strike from the Mountain Pass mine, five initial rock chip samples have returned total rare earth oxide results of 3.74-9.49%, including up to 3.19% neodymium-praseodymium, over a 6m mineralised zone.

‘Clear opportunity’

LKY chairman Nathan Lude said the similarities in the El Campo geology to the Mountain Pass Mine present a clear opportunity to enhance value through synergies associated with similar ore.

“By aligning with world class US research institutions, we aim to utilise mining technologies to unlock advanced processing pathways and downstream innovations that benefit both industry and our shareholders,” he said.

The company will progress discussions under suitable US partnering mechanisms such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, ACT agreements, and SBIR/STTR channels.

It will also evaluate integration opportunities within the US Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and Critical Materials Institute initiatives.

This article was developed in collaboration with Locksley Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Locksley advances US collaboration to push Mojave REE-antimony development forward