Thistle Resources digs up rich antimony samples in New Brunswick

Trench samples returned exceptional grades up to 23% Sb

Rowan Dunne

Published

8 hours ago

Antimony is drawing renewed interest in New Brunswick as prices hover at levels unseen in years, prompting explorers to revisit deposits once sidelined by low commodity values.

Amid this activity, Thistle Resources Inc (CVE: TRCG) (OTCMKTS: TRCGF) just reported strong preliminary results from its 2026 trenching programme at the Brunswick Antimony Project in the Bathurst Mining Camp. Portable XRF analysis of 10 rock-chip samples from the first trench returned antimony values ranging from 4.76 per cent to 23 per cent. Six samples graded above 10 per cent.

Surface samples reaching 23 per cent antimony are considered high-grade by most global standards. While some premium processed ores can exceed 45 to 60 per cent antimony, typical grades mined around the world are much lower, often in the low single digits. In North America, where primary antimony production is very limited, results like these stand out strongly.

A Portable XRF analysis is a handheld, non-destructive technique that uses X-rays to rapidly measure the elemental composition of rocks and minerals directly in the field. Thistle has now sent the samples to ALS Global’s lab in Moncton for full confirmation, including gold and silver assays.

These readings stand out when compared with earlier certified trench assays at the project, which reached up to 10.3 per cent antimony along with notable silver grades around 1,300 grams per tonne. Crews plan to map and channel-sample the exposures to guide a first drilling campaign. The Brunswick project remains undrilled to date. It sits less than 1 kilometre from the historic Brunswick No. 12 mine in a district known for large underground deposits of valuable metals formed from ancient volcanic activity.

“We know we have high-grade samples, and we look forward to exposing bedrock and seeing the direction of the mineralisation at the contact prior to our maiden drill program,” said CEO Patrick J. Cruickshank in a news release. “Although New Brunswick has other antimony deposits, this system is unique in that it also has high-grade silver associated with antimony in addition to gold.”

Thistle, a junior explorer, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker TRCG earlier this year and also trades on the OTCQB. The firm focuses on antimony, gold, silver and other critical minerals in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Unlike more advanced juniors operating in North America like NevGold Corp (CVE: NAU) (OTCMKTS: NAUFF) (FRA: 5E50), production at Brunswick remains a distant goal. Thistle will need to spend a considerable amount of time on drill campaigns and better defining the site’s resource.

These developments occur as antimony activity gains momentum across New Brunswick. The provincial government just selected Avenir Minerals, a subsidiary of Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd (TSE: AEM) (NYSE: AEM) (FRA: AE9), to negotiate an exclusive exploration agreement for the past-producing Lake George antimony mine. This project was once North America’s largest primary producer. Operators closed the site in 1996, but officials now seek to revive it amid stronger prices and demand for the metal in flame retardants, batteries, semiconductors and defence applications. In tandem with Thistle’s announcement about its new samples, the junior congratulated Avenir for being chosen.

Other prospectors stay active in the province too. Antimony Resources Corp (CNSX: ATMY) (OTCMKTS: ATMYF) (FRA: K8J0) is advancing its Bald Hill project with drilling and resource work while neighbouring Slam Exploration Ltd (CVE: SXL) (OTCMKTS: SLMXF) recently added gold-antimony claims adjacent to those operations.

Together, these efforts signal a broader revival of interest in the province’s antimony mineralisation.

Three styles of antimony mineralization. One hand sample.

This morning we reported XRF values up to 23.04% Sb from the first trenches at the Brunswick #Antimony Project — less than 1,000m from the past-producing Brunswick No. 12 mine, Bathurst Mining Camp, NB. $TRCG $TRCGF pic.twitter.com/fcw9rgopo0

— Thistle Resources Inc (@ThistleResource) July 20, 2026