Locksley Resources and Rice University Partner to Develop Domestic Antimony Processing
Rice University and Locksley enter into a strategic partnership for the development of Antimony processing technology.
Locksley Resources Limited, an Australian-based explorer focused on critical minerals and base metals, has signed a Research & Development Agreement with Rice University in Houston, Texas. The strategic collaboration aims to advance the potential of Locksley's Mojave Project, a significant asset in California, by developing green hydrometallurgical extraction of antimony and exploring antimony-based materials for energy storage applications.
Professor Pulickel M. Ajayan, a distinguished professor at Rice University's Department of Materials Science & Nanoengineering, is a pioneer in nanotechnology and advanced materials. With over 1,200 publications and 230,000 citations, Ajayan's expertise includes energy storage, batteries, solid electrolytes, nanocomposites, and green extraction. The researcher will be instrumental in driving the partnership's dual initiative, which includes Thrust 1 for the development of green hydrometallurgical extraction of antimony and Thrust 2 for the exploration of antimony-based materials for energy storage applications.
Rice University is a global leader in materials science, nanotechnology, and energy innovation. The George R. Brown School of Engineering, the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and the Rice Advanced Materials Institute have pioneered research in solid-state batteries, green chemistry, and advanced energy and defense materials. The partnership aims to address a critical supply chain gap, accelerate commercialization, and build global collaborations that strengthen U.S. energy resilience and the future of sustainable technologies.
Despite limited domestic antimony production in the United States, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. The agreement with Rice University provides Locksley with a first-mover advantage and positions the company to access a wide range of government funding opportunities. The collaboration also aims to meet existing domestic demand in the U.S. defense and other industries, as well as advance its application in next-generation energy storage systems.
The Mojave Project comprises more than 250 claims, with the North Block area directly abutting claims held by MP Materials, and El Campo lying along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine. The historic "Desert Antimony Mine" is located within the Mojave Project, which last operated in 1937. The company is actively advancing exploration of its US asset, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony.
The agreement represents Locksley's initiation of its U.S. Critical Minerals and Energy Resilience Strategy. Professor Pulickel M. Ajayan stated that the partnership represents an important step in advancing materials science from the laboratory into real-world applications, further emphasizing the significance of the collaboration for both parties. The integration of upstream development with downstream innovation provides a rare opportunity to build a domestic mine-to-materials supply chain aligned with U.S. strategic needs.
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