Zeus Resources (ASX:ZEU) is advancing antimony exploration in Morocco, targeting a critical mineral used in both civilian and military applications as Western nations seek to diversify supply beyond China.
The Australian recently reported that tin exploration and development company Elementos (ASX:ELT) is progressing its Oropesa Tin Project in Spain.
Elementos’ shares have risen about 300% over the past year. It says that Oropesa is on its way to becoming the only advanced tin mine in the European Union.
Zeus is pursuing a similar strategy through its Casablanca Antimony Project in Morocco.
A key property of antimony is its ability to harden and strengthen other metals, serving both civilian and military applications.
Zeus’ management acquired the Casablanca Antimony Project in Morocco in May 2025, which included six exploration licences.
Zeus said at the time of the purchase: “The global antimony market is experiencing significant supply constraints, driven primarily by China’s production decline and export restrictions. These have contributed to a tightening supply-demand dynamic and record-high prices.”
In 2024, China banned exports of antimony to the US. It sent the antimony price up 2,600% at that point. Prices have remained elevated.
Ever since 2024, the emphasis for the West has been to find and develop supply outside China.
Resource reporter Paul Sanger also points out: “China’s dominance is not just in mining: it also controls much of the downstream refining, smelting, and value-add processing capacity.”
As it stands, there is still no pure antimony mine in the US today. The US imports 100% of what it needs. Russia is also a producer, but hardly ideal for the US government.
This has increased pressure on the resource industry to develop projects wherever commercially viable deposits can be found, or explore areas that appear prospective.
Zeus is among the companies seeking to develop new antimony supply outside China. The company has been drilling at Casablanca since the acquisition, releasing results in March.
“Initial trenching and laboratory results at Casablanca are highly encouraging, confirming exceptional near-surface antimony grades and strong along-strike continuity within a robust quartz–stibnite system,” executive Director Hugh Pilgrim commented at the time.
Zeus is now moving forward with the next steps required to keep progressing Casablanca.
Like Elementos in Spain, Zeus is advancing a project outside Australia as part of its critical minerals strategy.
Write to Callum Newman at Mining.com.au
Images: Critical One Energy & Zeus Resources
