US Critical Mineral Security Takes Center Stage: Americas Gold and Silver Teams Up with US Antimony for Idaho Facility

In a major move aimed at securing America’s supply chain for a vital critical mineral, Americas Gold and Silver and United States Antimony have announced a new joint venture to construct a state-of-the-art processing facility in Idaho. The partnership is designed to establish a domestic “mine-to-finished” solution for antimony, a silvery metalloid that plays a surprisingly essential role in both defense and technology applications.

The deal centers on building a new hydrometallurgical processing plant within Americas Gold and Silver’s permitted Galena Complex in Idaho’s historic Silver Valley. Under the terms of the agreement, Americas Gold and Silver will hold a 51% stake in the joint venture, with US Antimony taking a 49% share and acting as the managing partner.

The Geopolitical Stakes of an Overlooked Mineral

For most people, antimony may not be a household name, but it is classified by the U.S. government as a critical mineral for a very good reason: national security. This element is a key component in a vast array of high-stakes applications, including flame-retardant materials for military equipment and uniforms, armor-piercing ammunition, night vision goggles, and infrared sensors.

Furthermore, antimony is an emerging player in the energy transition, finding use in next-generation liquid metal batteries and even semiconductors for solar panels. Despite this massive demand, the United States currently relies heavily on foreign imports for its supply, with China dominating the global market. This new facility in Idaho is a direct response to the pressing need to reduce that foreign dependency and onshore a critical supply chain.

Unlocking Value at the Galena Complex

The new plant will be constructed on existing, permitted land at the Galena Complex. This location is particularly strategic, as Americas Gold and Silver’s operation is already the largest currently producing antimony mine in the United States. The Galena Complex, primarily a silver and copper producer, will supply the antimony-rich feed material. In 2025 alone, the complex produced 561,000 pounds of antimony contained in concentrate.

This joint venture is a game-changer for Americas Gold and Silver. Previously, the antimony found as a byproduct in the silver concentrate was largely unmonetized. By moving into downstream processing through the partnership, Americas is positioning itself to capture significant new value from a mineral it is already mining, boosting overall profitability by generating a finished product domestically. US Antimony, in turn, brings its technical expertise in hydrometallurgical processing and its marketing network, which includes connections to the U.S. Government, to complete the vertical integration.

With an estimated 18-month construction timeline, this Idaho project marks a major milestone in America’s long-term strategy to ensure a stable, domestic source of the critical materials that underpin modern technology and national defense.