America needs antimony for weapons and solar panels. The mining industry is looking to Alaska.

A chunk of stibnite, which contains more than 70% antimony, from Felix Gold’s Treasure Creek project near Fairbanks.

Now, eyeing funds available from the U.S. Department of Defense, two publicly traded Australian companies hope to open what they describe as small antimony mines in Alaska within the next few years. Though the Pentagon has not yet subsidized any Alaska antimony projects, it has invested directly in other projects targeting “critical minerals.” If awarded money, Nova or Felix would become the second company in Alaska in two years to receive Defense Department dollars intended to boost mining in the state., on the Seward Peninsula north of Nome. Like for antimony, the U.S. has heavily relied on China for graphite, a key component of electric vehicle batteries.

During World War II, the Stampede Mine, located in what’s now Denali National Park, accounted for three-fourths of the country’s antimony production, according to a“It’s all over the place,” said Dave Szumigala, the state geologist who wrote the white paper. “I’ve probably been at over 60 prospects where I’ve picked up a chunk of antimony.”

Antimony was once mined in large quantities in Alaska mines before production centralized in China. This photo shows antimony ore awaiting shipment from Alaska’s Interior on the Tanana Valley Railroad in the early 20th Century.

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