U.S. Army opens future domestic source of antimony sulfide | Article

STIBNITE, ID – The U.S. Military’s Joint Program Govt Workplace Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A) joined Perpetua Assets Inc. to kick off the Stibnite Gold Undertaking in central Idaho. The undertaking seeks to redevelop an deserted mine web site in Stibnite for gold and different supplies. One of many key supplies ensuing from the gold mining operation is antimony sulfide, a essential element utilized in ammunition manufacturing. The U.S. beforehand obtained antimony sulfide from international sources till 2021 when that offer ended.

The kickoff occasion acknowledged key allowing milestones and the beginning of planning for development actions and was hosted by Jon Cherry, president and chief government officer of Perpetua. Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, Joint Program Govt Officer Armaments & Ammunition and Picatinny Arsenal Commanding Normal, joined Idaho Governor Brad Little and Deputy Below Secretary of Agriculture for Pure Assets and Atmosphere Kristin Sleeper, in addition to different key undertaking stakeholders on the occasion.

“The Stibnite undertaking at present holds the biggest recognized reserve of antimony within the U.S. At an estimated 148 million lbs., it is without doubt one of the largest antimony reserves exterior of international management” mentioned Reim. “This mine represents the nearest-term answer for a safe, dependable, home useful resource for navy grade antimony sulfide. And it’s consistent with the Military’s ongoing ‘Floor-to-Spherical’ assured munitions technique to find and have interaction with home sources for essential supplies as we modernize and fortify the Arsenal of Democracy.”

The occasion highlighted the vital function Picatinny Arsenal has performed within the Military’s push to ascertain a whole home provide chain, from uncooked materials entry to materials processing to ammunition manufacturing.

“The assist of quite a few organizations at Picatinny have been essential to advancing this technique and addressing a essential provide chain situation for the Protection Division,” mentioned Reim.

The JPEO A&A and the Workplace of the Undertaking Supervisor for Maneuver Ammunition Methods (PM MAS) initiated a $22.4M Protection Ordnance Expertise Consortium effort in 2023 to develop a course of for producing navy grade antimony sulfide from uncooked ore. The hassle has already accomplished lab-scale testing and is within the strategy of finishing a pilot-scale operation. In assist of the undertaking, U.S. Military Fight Capabilities Growth Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Heart is offering technical assist and Military Contracting Command – New Jersey is offering contracting assist. Because of the contributions from these teams at Picatinny, the method for refining antimony, a key step within the provide chain for ammunition, is predicted to be out there by 2026.

Additional, JPEO A&A, PM MAS, and DEVCOM supplied subject material experience to the Protection Manufacturing Act Investments (DPA) Program for a $59.3M undertaking with Perpetua to finish environmental and engineering research mandatory to finish environmental allowing necessities.

In January 2025, Perpetua was issued a Closing File of Resolution (ROD) from the U.S. Forestry Service, a vital Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act allowing milestone. The Closing ROD allowed Perpetua to give attention to advancing the Undertaking in the direction of a development determination, together with finalizing the remaining federal and state permits and securing financing. The issuance additionally allowed Perpetua to take care of their deliberate schedule for operations and manufacturing of uncooked antimony sulfide to start in late-2028. As well as, simply earlier than the ceremony Perpetua was issued their Discover to Proceed that means all federal and state permits are so as. As soon as monetary assurance is acquired, Perpetua will be capable to break floor.

This mine incorporates the uncooked antimony sulfide ore that may be extracted and refined into navy grade antimony sulfide, which is a key ingredient in practically 30 % of all navy ammunition gadgets, primarily in primers, which provoke the combustion of the propellant that generates the fuel strain wanted to launch a projectile. The high-quality uncooked antimony sulfide on the mine will allow additional refinement to the navy grade mandatory to make sure primers function reliably in all working environments. As well as, there’s a substantial business marketplace for antimony. It’s used as a fireplace retardant in security gear, automotive braking methods, and family items akin to mattresses and materials utilized in youngsters’s clothes. It can be present in lead-acid batteries, anti-friction bearings, rubber, ceramics, glass, and prescription drugs.

Since 2010, Perpetua has been working carefully with the U.S. Division of Agriculture and its company the U.S. Forestry Service to restart the mine in Idaho by way of the Stibnite Gold Undertaking to offer a sustainable answer by restarting home antimony sulfide manufacturing. This included remediation for earlier water contamination and guaranteeing the brand new undertaking meets all environmental rules for allowing. Perpetua engaged often with the Forestry Service in the course of the DPA undertaking. The shut communication was vital to satisfy key allowing timelines, to submit adequate documentation and knowledge, and to handle feedback in the course of the course of resulting in profitable issuance of the Closing ROD.

For extra info please contact the Joint Program Govt Workplace for Armaments and Ammunition Public Affairs Workplace at usarmy.pica.jpeo-aa.mbx.jpeo-aa-public-affairs@army.mil.