Source: Mining Journal
By: Paul Harris
Private company Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining aims to deliver a feasibility study for a silver-antimony mining and refining operation at the Sunshine mine in Idaho, USA in 2027, which will possibly also include the ability to produce gallium and germanium, chief executive Heather White told Mining Journal.
Backed by the Electrum Group, which bought the mine out of bankruptcy in 2010 and has since invested US$250 million, Sunshine is permitted and has a wealth of existing mine and facilities infrastructure.
The company recently raised $75 million, which it will use to execute the next phase of development and engineering for a feasibility study, including the final sizing of the mill.
“Key activities over the next 18 months include infill drilling and underground development to have a higher level of confidence in the indicated resources, and detailed engineering of the mill, so that we can move into the construction phase in 2027,” said White.
The company aims to produce 6.5Mozpa of silver for more than 25 years, with production during the first six years of 8Mozpa. The Sunshine Mine hosts an indicated resource of 3.3Mt grading 1067gpt silver containing 112Moz, with 165Moz in inferred resources.
Silver will generate 90% of the operations revenue, and it will also produce antimony, and is looking to supply 40% of domestic US annual antimony demand. It will look to produce refined marketable final products in the form of antimony trioxide, antimonate and antimony metal.
“We’re looking at sizing the antimony refinery to not only process antimony from Sunshine, but also toll process feed from others. We are also looking at future expansion potential by 2031 to satisfy 80% of US antimony demand. There is no large-scale US antimony refinery today. People shipped concentrates to China until late 2024. Unlocking a refining solution is the key final step to allow other companies to produce antimony. We are raising our hand to say we can do this on a large scale,” said White.
The company has not yet received any critical minerals funding from the US government, although it is in contact with it about supply chain development. White believes the best action the government can take to help developers get into production in addition to grants or other forms of financing, is permitting. “The path from discovery to production is far too slow. Permitting reform is the single biggest lever the US government could move the needle on to create a clear, timely and predictable process to allow responsible projects to move forward,” she said.
