Great Northern Minerals Unveils 1km High-Grade Antimony Vein at Catalyst Ridge

Significant Antimony Discovery at Catalyst Ridge

Great Northern Minerals Limited (ASX – GNM) has announced a noteworthy breakthrough at its Catalyst Ridge Project in California, revealing a quartz-stibnite vein extending approximately one kilometre with surface rock chip assays reaching as high as 7.1% antimony. This discovery is particularly significant given antimony's critical role in flame retardants, batteries, and other industrial applications, positioning the project as a potentially valuable asset in the evolving minerals landscape.

The vein, identified at the Antimony Gulch prospect, also contains notable concentrations of silver and tungsten, with assays up to 23.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.41% tungsten. The vein widths observed reach up to six metres, and the mineralisation occurs within felsic intrusive rocks, a geological setting that often hosts economically important deposits.

Strategic Expansion and Exploration Plans

In parallel with this discovery, Great Northern Minerals has submitted applications for a mineral prospecting permit to expand the Catalyst Ridge Project footprint to 20.48 square kilometres. This expansion aims to secure highly prospective ground adjacent to existing claims, potentially increasing the project's resource base and exploration upside.

Looking ahead, the company plans to undertake further detailed mapping and rock sampling before the end of the year, with results expected in early 2026. Additionally, a Dipole-Dipole Induced Polarisation (DDIP) geophysical survey is slated to help delineate sulphide mineralisation at depth, refining drill targets for both near-surface antimony and deeper gold mineralisation.

Gold Potential Echoes Nearby Deposits

One of the more intriguing aspects of the discovery is the vein's geological and structural resemblance to the nearby Colosseum Gold deposit, which hosts over one million ounces of gold. This similarity raises the prospect that the Antimony Gulch vein could be the upper expression of a classic low-sulphidation epithermal system, with gold-silver breccia-style mineralisation potentially present at depth.

Great Northern Minerals’ Non-Executive Chairman, Eddie King, highlighted the strategic importance of this discovery and expansion, emphasizing the project's potential to unlock further value for shareholders as exploration advances.

Cautious Optimism Amidst Early-Stage Exploration

While the initial rock chip assays are encouraging, it is important to note that these are reconnaissance samples and not yet representative of the overall grade or continuity of the mineralisation. The mineral prospecting permit application is still under assessment by the California State Lands Commission, and there is no guarantee of approval. Further drilling and detailed sampling will be critical to confirm the extent and economic viability of the mineralisation.

Nonetheless, the combination of high-grade antimony, associated metals, and geological parallels to established gold deposits positions Catalyst Ridge as a project to watch in 2026 and beyond.