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Alaska’s $43.4M Antimony Investment: From the Brooks Range to the Pentagon


A $43.4 million defense contract just put Alaska on the map for one of the world’s most critical minerals: antimony.


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On October 3, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded funding to Alaska Range Resources (a subsidiary of Nova Minerals) to help secure a domestic supply chain for antimony, a mineral used in ammunition, night vision, flame retardants, and semiconductors. The money comes through the Defense Production Act Title III program, aimed at cutting reliance on foreign suppliers like China and Russia.


What Happened


The Pentagon’s award will support development of the Estelle Project in Alaska’s Tintina Gold Belt, just northwest of Anchorage. The goal is to build a U.S.-based mining and refining hub capable of producing and processing antimony for national defense and high-tech needs.

“Antimony is a critical defense mineral — and Alaska could be America’s next supply hub.”

Why It Matters for Alaska


  • National Security: Alaska is being positioned as a strategic supplier of antimony, which the U.S. currently imports almost entirely.

  • Economic Growth: The project could bring jobs, infrastructure, and new investment into Alaska’s mining and processing sectors.

  • Diversification: Beyond oil and seafood, Alaska is emerging as a critical minerals hub, tied directly to defense and advanced manufacturing.


Historically, Alaska produced antimony from districts like Kantishna, Fairbanks, and Stampede. This investment signals a return to that legacy — but with national security at stake.


Why It Matters for Manufacturers


This is not just about mining. To make Alaska a real player in critical minerals, there will be demand for:

  • Local equipment and infrastructure suppliers

  • Specialized fabrication and machining

  • Logistics and cold-weather operations support

  • Workforce training pipelines


For AKMA members, that means potential contracts and partnerships in an industry set to grow rapidly under federal backing.


Fast Facts: Antimony in Alaska


  • $43.4M → Pentagon investment under Defense Production Act

  • Uses: ammunition, semiconductors, flame retardants, night vision

  • Global Supply: dominated by China, Russia, Tajikistan

  • Alaska Legacy: historic production in Kantishna & Fairbanks districts


The Bigger Picture


The antimony investment echoes the story of Red Dog Mine, which transformed Northwest Alaska into one of the world’s top zinc producers thanks to road and port infrastructure. If the Estelle Project follows that path, Alaska could become a cornerstone of America’s critical minerals strategy — a sector only expected to grow as demand for high-tech and defense materials accelerates.


Alaska’s manufacturing community has a chance to be part of this critical mineral supply chain. From equipment to packaging, from logistics to workforce development — there’s room to engage.


Connect with resources in mining, defense, and advanced materials.




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