Alaska at center of critical mineral rush

In the hills outside Fairbanks, geologists are looking not for gold, but for a metal that has suddenly become a matter of national defense: antimony.

Long overlooked as a by-product of gold mining, antimony is now in short supply after China, the world’s dominant producer, sharply restricted exports to the United States. The move, part of a tit-for-tat trade battle, sent prices soaring and prompted manufacturers to scramble for new sources.

According to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, companies are revisiting old mine sites in Alaska and Idaho that last produced antimony decades ago. The US Department of War is investing tens of millions of dollars to restart production, and Alaska is quickly emerging as one of the most promising frontiers.

One of the leading efforts is by United States Antimony Corporation, which recently received a $245 million government contract to supply antimony ingots for the national defense stockpile. The company is expanding its smelter in Montana and pursuing mineral leases near Fairbanks, where historical surveys show traces of antimony in old gold workings, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Company geologists say they are following the trail left by miners from a century ago, when gold was the prize and everything else was left behind. “We’re looking for what they missed,” said Blakestad, who has explored mineral projects from Alaska to Africa.

Australia-based Felix Gold is also exploring near Fairbanks at its Treasure Creek property, where it has identified high-grade antimony deposits near the surface. The company says it could begin production later this year if permits are approved.

Antimony is essential in hardening ammunition, strengthening armor-piercing rounds, and producing components for semiconductors and batteries. With U.S. stockpiles depleted by global conflicts and supply chains disrupted, securing a domestic source has become a strategic priority.

But Alaska’s new antimony rush isn’t without friction. Some local mushers complained the Treasure Creek project cut off access to sled-dog training trails leading to the White Mountains, a popular recreation area. Felix Gold has since built an alternate trail, but residents say the issue illustrates the growing tension between development and the state’s outdoor traditions, according to the Wall Street Journal story.

Tourism operators also reportedly voiced concern about light pollution from nighttime exploration work near Northern Lights viewing sites. One tour company said it is planning to move its Aurora Borealis viewing camp farther away from the mine area, a costly relocation that could take years to recoup.

Environmental groups, meanwhile, are beginning to mobilize against the projects, saying Alaska’s push to produce strategic minerals could cause environmental damage.

Still, with China controlling roughly 60% of global antimony production and Russia supplying much of the rest, policymakers see Alaska as critical to building a secure supply chain. “The U.S. is going to have to secure its own supply,” said Joe Webb, executive director of U.S. Antimony, as told to the Journal.

For now, the hunt continues in the quiet ridges north of Fairbanks. It’s a place where miners once chased gold but now dig for something far more valuable to a nation trying to defend itself.

Reporting based in part on materials first published by The Wall Street Journal.