Core Insights - Locksley Resources Limited has signed a strategic Research & Development Agreement with Rice University to develop domestic processing of U.S.-sourced antimony, marking the initiation of its U.S. Critical Minerals and Energy Resilience Strategy [1][2] - The collaboration aims to address a critical supply chain gap in the U.S. by developing pathways for antimony processing to meet domestic demand in defense and energy sectors [2][4] Company Overview - Locksley Resources is an Australian-based explorer focused on critical minerals and base metals, with significant assets in the U.S., particularly the Mojave Project in California, which targets rare earth elements and antimony [8] - The Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims and is strategically positioned to align with U.S. objectives for critical mineral independence and economic security, especially given the geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China [8] Research and Development Focus - The agreement includes two main research thrusts: - Thrust 1 focuses on green hydrometallurgical extraction of antimony from mining feedstocks, aiming to develop low-energy, environmentally friendly extraction processes [3][4] - Thrust 2 explores antimony-based materials for energy storage applications, including advanced electrode materials for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries [3][4] Strategic Importance - The integration of upstream development with downstream innovation presents a unique opportunity to establish a domestic mine-to-materials supply chain that aligns with U.S. strategic needs [4] - The collaboration is expected to unlock value from the Mojave Asset and contribute to securing critical supplies of antimony for defense, energy, and AI infrastructure sectors [3][4]