Trigg Minerals (ASX:TMG) is set to begin its first-ever exploration program at its newly acquired Taylors Arm Antimony Project in northern New South Wales.
Taylors Arm was acquired — along with the Spartan Antimony Project in the same region — on 20 September as part of a concerted push into the antimony sector, which has boomed following news that major producer China would be curtailing its exports.
Already, Trigg has identified 71 historical working sites at Taylors Arm, which were active during World War 2 and the early 1970s. The Testers mine, for example, features “massive” stibnite veins grading up to 63% antimony — a figure Trigg says is “Australia’s highest recorded antimony grade”.
However, despite the widespread occurrences of antimony, previous exploration by other companies had only focused on previously identified zones. In addition, no modern exploration has been undertaken at the project since at least the 1990s.
As such, Trigg is aiming to broaden its exploratory scope by testing for larger-scale deposits across one or more of the antimony occurrences.
This is expected to involve developing an exploration framework by compiling all historical exploration data into a central database. The intention is that, based on the physical properties of the polymetallic sulphide mineralisation, geophysical and other remote sensing tools should be able to unlock previously undiscovered resources.
To that end, the company has engaged Dirt Exploration’s Dr Neil Pendock to complete a number of thermal remote sensing studies across prospective zones of the Taylors Arm Project.
According to an earlier announcement, Trigg issued more than 106.25 million shares — worth roughly $850,000 — to Bullseye Gold in exchange for the Taylors Arm and Spartan projects.
“The antimony market is primed for growth, driven by rising demand in critical sectors. Its use in photovoltaic solar cells enhances solar panel efficiency, aligning with the global shift toward renewable energy,” Trigg said at the time.
“Stricter fire safety regulations fuel increased consumption of antimony-based flame retardants, while the expanding electric vehicle market highlights its importance in advanced battery technologies.
“As global recognition of antimony’s value grows, its market will expand, reinforcing its status as a critical commodity for emerging technologies and essential industrial applications.”
Trigg will be presenting at the Noosa Mining Conference being held from 13 to 15 November 2024 at Peppers Noosa Resort. Click here to register.
Write to Oliver Gray at Mining.com.au
Images: iStock
