Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) targets U.S. supply chain independence with Mojave critical minerals strategy

As the global race for critical mineral security accelerates, Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) is positioning its Mojave Project at the heart of the United States push for domestic supply chain independence.

In this Q&A, Non Executive Chair Nathan Lude outlines how the company is leveraging partnerships, government programs and high-grade prospects like El Campo and Desert Antimony to drive long term value in the rare earths and antimony sectors.

What is the main purpose of Locksley’s U.S. collaboration strategy?

The overarching goal is to align our Mojave Project with the United States strategic objective of securing independence in critical minerals.

There is growing urgency from U.S. agencies to establish domestic supply chains for rare earths and antimony, which are essential for defence, clean energy and advanced technologies.

This is where we believe Locksley can play a meaningful role.

We are actively engaging with key stakeholders, ranging from federal bodies like the Department of Energy and Department of Defence to institutions focused on research and innovation.

“Our objective goes beyond resource exploration and definition we also aim to collaborate on the technology and processing side, working on how these minerals are extracted, separated and integrated downstream, that is where long term value is truly created.”

Why is the El Campo prospect considered so significant?

El Campo stands out for two main reasons, its strategic location and compelling mineralogy.

Geologically, it sits directly along strike from the Mountain Pass Mine, the only rare earths mine currently producing in the United States.

This provides critical context, indicating that we are operating in the right neighbourhood.

Coupled with favourable U.S. supply dynamics, pricing trends and increasing government support, this creates a highly encouraging environment for Locksley.

The second factor is the quality of mineralisation.

We have returned rock chip samples grading up to 12.1 percent total rare earth oxides and 3.19 percent neodymium praseodymium, which are high value components used in permanent magnets and clean energy systems.

Combining those strong grades with geological continuity near Mountain Pass, gives us a high degree of confidence that El Campo has the potential to become a valuable asset as the United States seeks to reduce its dependence on imported rare earths.

What is the importance of the Desert Antimony Mine in this strategy?

“The Desert Antimony Mine has the potential to be a game changer.”

It is a historical production site, but what sets it apart are the exceptional surface sample grades we are seeing today up to 46 percent antimony and more than 1000 grams per tonne silver.

While such grades have been reported in isolated cases elsewhere, results like these remain outstanding, especially considering the lack of current antimony production in the United States.

Demand for antimony is rising, particularly for defence applications, battery alloys and semiconductors.

The combination of high grades, historical production and growing U.S. demand positions Locksley to act quickly upon success.

That is why we view Desert Antimony not merely as an exploration opportunity, but potentially as a cornerstone of a broader domestic supply chain solution.

How will Locksley collaborate with U.S. institutions and programs?

Our approach is deliberately multifaceted.

On one hand, we are pursuing formal engagement through mechanisms such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), ACT agreements and small business innovation programs like SBIR and STTR.

These are proven avenues for companies like ours to collaborate with federal laboratories and research institutions.

On the other hand, we are focused on building direct relationships with universities, technology developers and downstream processors who require critical mineral inputs or are working on processing innovations.

Our team is already engaged in discussions on several fronts, with the goal of co-developing or licensing technologies that can add value to our projects.

Whether it involves processing rare earths, optimising antimony recovery or supplying feedstock for defence related uses, we are positioning Locksley as a key partner within the U.S. critical minerals ecosystem.

What are the next steps for the Mojave Project?

At present, we are progressing two parallel streams of work.

Technically, we are finalising our field program, including confirmation of drill collar locations and assessing additional prospective areas for future drilling campaigns.

Concurrently, we are continuing discussions with U.S. agencies and research partners, which we anticipate will result in formal collaboration agreements.

These agreements could lead to pilot plant initiatives, downstream processing trials and potential federal support for development.

On the ground, we are preparing for our maiden drill program at Mojave, which will be a crucial step in establishing the scale and continuity of mineralisation.

“This drilling campaign is expected to be a defining milestone in validating the commercial potential of the project, particularly as it relates to United States critical mineral supply chain priorities.”

Final Remarks

Locksley Resources is making strategic moves at a pivotal time for the U.S. critical minerals sector.

By combining strong geological fundamentals with proactive government engagement and a collaborative approach to downstream innovation, the company is not only advancing the Mojave Project but also contributing to the broader vision of supply chain independence for rare earths and antimony.

As momentum builds, Locksley is well positioned to become a key player in North America’s critical mineral future.

Please note the following valuable information before using this website. 

Independent Research 

Market Open Australia is intended to be used only for educational and informative purposes, and any information on this website should not be taken as investment advice or guidance. It is important to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions, which should be based on your own investment needs and personal circumstances. Any investment decisions based on information contained on this website should be taken in line with independent financial advice from a qualified professional or should be independently researched and verified.