Americas Gold and Silver Achieves Breakthrough With 99%+ Antimony Extraction From Its Copper Concentrate, Supporting Potential Primary Production in the United States
Executive Summary
- Updated metallurgical testing demonstrates >99% antimony extraction from copper flotation concentrate and up to 60% gold recovery, unlocking significant untapped by‑product value.
- Phase 1 flotation achieved 90–96% antimony, ~98–99% silver, and 96–98% copper recoveries; Phase 2 ASL leaching confirmed near‑complete antimony removal while retaining copper, silver, and iron in the concentrate.
- The breakthrough positions Americas Gold & Silver to become a domestic U.S. producer of antimony—a critical mineral—potentially adding substantial payable metal revenue.
Key Details
- Phase 1 Flotation (tetrahedrite ore ~1% Sb):
- Antimony recovery: ~90–96%
- Silver recovery: ~98–99% (≈50 oz/ton)
- Copper recovery: ~96–98% (≈1% Cu)
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Rougher concentrate grades: 18–19% Sb, ~600 opt Ag, 24% Cu
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Phase 2 ASL Hydrometallurgical Leaching (copper concentrate ~19% Sb):
- Antimony extraction: >99% (both test samples)
- Arsenic extraction: 72–79%
- Gold extraction: 25–60% from concentrate
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Silver, copper, iron retained at enhanced grades in leached concentrate
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Test Sample Results – Table 1:
- Sample 1 Feed: 18.7% Sb, 3.22 g/t Au, 26,100 g/t Ag → Tails: 0.032% Sb, 2.4 g/t Au, 30,091 g/t Ag; Recovery to solution: 99.8% Sb, 79.5% As, 28.1 g/t Au.
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Sample 2 Feed: 19% Sb, 2.12 g/t Au, 25,700 g/t Ag → Tails: 0.067% Sb, 0.857 g/t Au, 27,847 g/t Ag; Recovery to solution: 99.7% Sb, 72.0% As, 61.1 g/t Au.
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Allihies Engineering Comment: Near‑100% antimony leached; leachate can be processed into high‑purity antimony metal and compounds; arsenic reduced dramatically; silver, copper, iron fully retained.
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Historical Context: Over 20 M lbs of antimony produced since 2001; recent drilling (2019‑2025) shows increased tetrahedrite ore, improving Sb/Cu ratio to ~0.64:1 versus historic 0.69:1.
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Strategic Implication: Successful antimony extraction could create the first U.S. domestic antimony concentrate in 25 years, enhancing supply security after China halted exports (Dec 2024).
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Management Quote (Paul Andre Huet, Chairman & CEO): Emphasized potential revenue uplift from antimony at current Rotterdam prices and outlined next steps for technical and trade‑off studies to commercialize the process.
Notable Quotes
“I am thrilled that results of our test work have successfully demonstrated the potential to extract over 99% of the antimony… This breakthrough could significantly enhance the payable metal value for Americas and our shareholders.” – Paul Andre Huet, Chairman & CEO
All forward‑looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties detailed in the release.