Critical One Energy (CSE: CRTL) has extended a high-grade antimony zone at its Howells Lake project in northwestern Ontario.
Announced on Thursday, the new drilling expanded the known mineralized footprint about 70 metres northeast of previous holes. Additionally, the latest assays identified gold mineralization within the same drill hole.
Hole HWL 2026 016 returned 31.5 metres at 4.9 per cent antimony, including 4.0 metres at 21.2 per cent. Also, 13.9 metres at 6.6 per cent antimony, including 1.0 metre at 36.9 per cent and 17.0 metres at 1.3 g/t gold, including 3.0 metres at 2.0 g/t .
Critical One said the results extended its interpreted high-grade antimony structure northeast. The structure dips about 55 degrees northeast and remains open for additional drilling.
CEO Duane Parnham said the near-surface grades supported management’s confidence in the project and its potential direct-shipping strategy. Additionally, he said the newly identified gold could provide another source of value.
The company plans to continue drilling northeast and down dip along the structure.
Howells Lake sits in Ontario’s Thunder Bay Mining Division, about 120 kilometres west of the Ring of Fire access corridor. Critical One has positioned the project as a potential future source of antimony for North American markets.
The company is conducting a CAD$9 million drilling campaign at Howells Lake. It has completed 34 holes and is roughly halfway through the program.
Earlier results included four metres grading 70.2 per cent antimony. Another interval returned 4.17 metres grading 27.35 per cent.
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Project contains strong historical estimate
However, Howells Lake remains an exploration project and does not yet have a mine permit or production timeline.
The project contains a historical estimate of roughly 48 million pounds of antimony.
Critical One acquired full ownership of Howells Lake roughly 16 to 18 months ago. Subsequently, the company began drilling to expand and update the historical mineralization.
The renewed exploration comes as North American governments seek alternatives to Chinese critical mineral supply chains.
China dominates global antimony supply and has imposed export restrictions that contributed to a sharp increase in prices. Antimony has several industrial applications and is also important for defence manufacturing.
Earlier this month, Critical One made its case for participating in the United States defence supply chain. The company hired retired US Army General Charles A. Flynn as a strategic adviser to support those efforts.
Flynn said the United States lacks sufficient processing capacity for several critical minerals. Consequently, he expects allies such as Canada to play a role.
Antimony must undergo mining, separation and refining before manufacturers can use it in defence products. Small quantities are used in products including ammunition primers and igniters.
Meanwhile, Washington has started directing public funding toward rebuilding domestic antimony production and processing.
The US government awarded USD$27 million through the Defense Production Act to United States Antimony Corp (NYSE: UAMY).
It also committed USD$80 million to Perpetua Resources Corp (TSE: PPTA) (NASDAQ: PPTA) for an Idaho antimony supply chain.
Furthermore, Critical One is not the only Canadian miner targeting the U.S. antimony supply chain. NevGold Corp (CVE: NAU) (OTCMKTS: NAUFF) (FRA: 5E50) is recovering antimony from historic mine waste at its Limousine Butte project in Nevada.
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Ontario committed CAD$1B to infrastructure
Parnham said Howells Lake could benefit from its relatively shallow mineralization and proximity to planned Ontario infrastructure. In addition, he said the company can process its material relatively cleanly.
Ontario has committed CAD$1 billion toward infrastructure connected with its Ring of Fire critical minerals development strategy.
Flynn expects rebuilding North American mineral supply chains to take years rather than a single political cycle. However, he said renewed government and industry attention has created momentum for critical mineral exploration.
NevGold Corp is a sponsor of Mugglehead news coverage
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