VANCOUVER, BC, May 7, 2024 /CNW/ - Metallis Resources Inc. (TSXV: MTS) (OTCQB: MTLFF) (the "Company" or "Metallis") reports that following recent compilation work of its historic database, the geological team has identified highly elevated antimony assays, significantly increasing the critical mineral potential of the Company's Greyhound Property ("the Property"). The economics of critical minerals are supported by the US Infrastructure Act as demonstrated by recent high-profile moves from the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense to finance the nearby Stibnite Mine which has significant antimony reserves and is owned by Perpetua Resources.
Fiore Aliperti, Metallis' President and CEO commented, "Recent news released by Perpetua announcing $1.8 billion in debt financing has demonstrated to the market the commitment and resolve of the American government to establish a local supply of critical minerals. This strategy is an essential piece of the USA's transition to a sustainable energy future and overcoming China's global dominance in the supply chain of these elements. With options for government grants, loan guarantees, and access to capital, it is encouraging for us to be exploring for the same commodity in the same region." He added, "We look to leverage this information during our exploration efforts this upcoming season as the Property has never been assessed for antimony potential and provides our investors with multiple chances for success."
In analyzing the historic work, the technical team has identified significant anomalous values of antimony as well as descriptions from previous operators of antimony sulfide (stibnite) observed within the mineralized zones. Although the majority of the previous mining did not assay for antimony, a rock sampling program in 1976 returned grades that averaged 2.4% Sb from 12 samples. These historic samples ranged from 0.17% to 4.68% Sb and demonstrate highly enriched stibnite mineralization across the Property. For context, antimony prices have averaged between $5 and $6 USD per pound in the last 3 years making it approximately 1.2 times more valuable by weight than copper.
Just 38 km northwest along strike from the Greyhound property lies Perpetua Resources' Stibnite Mine, with mineral reserves of 5 million ounces of gold and significant antimony. Perpetua has recently been the recipient of a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for the potential debt financing of up to $1.8 billion through the "Make more in America Initiative" and the "China and Transformational Exports Program". Perpetua has also been the recipient of multiple government grants totaling over US $40 million to develop and secure the antimony resource from their project.
Antimony supply has been largely dominated by China with no antimony mines currently operating in the USA. This has led to the classification of antimony as a high priority critical mineral defined by its economic importance and high supply risk. Governments around the world have stressed the strategic importance of this critical metal as it is used across several military applications as well as in battery storage, circuit boards and laser technology. Furthermore, the only antimony smelter in America is in the neighboring state of Montana, currently receiving antimony ore from mines in Mexico.
In addition to the antimony prospectivity, the Greyhound property's primary commodity is silver, which has significant uses in green technology and energy, with a number of lobbying groups looking to establish silver as a critical metal. Uses of silver are extensive as it exhibits the highest electric and thermal conductivity of all elements. Over 15% of all silver production is used in photovoltaic technologies (solar panels) ensuring a consistent demand for the electrification of the planet.
Qualified Person
David Dupre, P.Geo, Vice President - Exploration and the Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.
Note: The reader is cautioned that all measurements and metal grades are derived from previous reports and Metallis has not independently confirmed the results. The similarity of values and conservative approach does lend confidence to these values.
About the Greyhound Property
The recently acquired Greyhound Property is in Custer County, Idaho, approximately 42 km northwest of the town of Stanley. This property was the center of an active silver mining camp in the early 1900's and at one point contained a smelter and two active mines situated along a 3.6 km mineralized shear zone. Since 1910, the property has seen limited exploration and only minor development when the Greyhound Mine was reactivated and mined from 1980-1991. The last remaining ore from this period was shipped to a smelter in 2000 and the property remains substantially underexplored and has never been drilled.