The global race for critical minerals has traditionally focused on the “battery duo” of lithium and cobalt. However, in 2026, a lesser-known metalloid has surged to the forefront of the North American strategic agenda: antimony. As geopolitical tensions solidify into long-term trade barriers, the discovery of significant antimony mineralization by Critical One Energy at Howells Lake, Ontario, represents more than just a successful drill program: it is a potential pivot point for Western defense autonomy.
Critical One Energy recently announced that its initial drilling at the Howells Lake project intercepted visible stibnite (the primary ore of antimony) across a broad 100-meter interval. Located in northwestern Ontario, the find suggests that Canada may hold the key to breaking a supply monopoly that has left NATO’s defense industrial base vulnerable to adversarial export controls.
The Strategic Weight of Antimony: Munitions and Sensors
Antimony is often referred to as the “forgotten” critical mineral, yet its applications are indispensable to modern warfare. In its metallic form, antimony is used to harden lead alloys in ammunition and lead-acid batteries. In its oxide form, it serves as a vital flame retardant for military clothing, tents, and aircraft interiors.
Beyond these traditional uses, antimony has become a “high-tech” defense metal. It is a critical component in the production of infrared sensors, night vision goggles, and laser sighting systems. As military technology moves toward greater precision and electronic sophistication, the demand for high-purity antimony has decoupled from traditional industrial cycles.
For a deeper understanding of why these materials are being prioritized now, see our Critical Minerals Guide: What it is, why it matters, 2026 outlook.
The Howells Lake Discovery: Scale and Significance
The discovery at Howells Lake is notable not just for the presence of the mineral, but for its apparent scale and accessibility. Critical One Energy reported visible stibnite mineralization beginning just 24 meters below the surface. The 100-meter core length of mineralization suggests a substantial system that hasn’t seen serious exploration in over four decades.
Key Highlights of the Howells Lake Program:
- Mineralization Type: Visible stibnite (Sb2S3) in broad, near-surface zones.
- Core Length: Multiple zones totaling approximately 100 meters in the first drill hole.
- Historical Context: Previous data from the late 1970s indicated grades as high as 5.37% antimony over 8.35 meters, with some grab samples hitting 75% purity.
- Infrastructure: Located roughly 120 km west of the access corridor for the “Ring of Fire,” a region central to Ontario’s mineral strategy.
Caption: Mining geologists review core samples from the Howells Lake project, where broad zones of stibnite suggest a significant domestic antimony resource.
The project is currently undergoing a phased 3,000-meter drilling program, supported in part by the Ontario government’s exploration funding initiatives. This public-private alignment underscores the perceived urgency of establishing a domestic supply chain that bypasses traditional Eurasian routes.
Geopolitical Chokepoints: The China-Russia Monopoly
The urgency surrounding the Howells Lake discovery is driven by a stark reality: the United States and Canada have virtually zero primary domestic production of antimony. Historically, the global market has been dominated by China and Russia, which together account for more than 70% of global mine production.
In late 2024 and throughout 2025, China implemented increasingly stringent export restrictions on antimony metal and ores, citing national security concerns. These moves mirrored previous restrictions on gallium and germanium, effectively weaponizing the supply chain for materials essential to Western defense manufacturing.
| Country | % of Global Antimony Production (Estimated 2025) | Strategic Stance |
|---|---|---|
| China | 45% | Export Bans/Restrictions |
| Russia | 22% | Sanctioned/Geopolitical Rival |
| Tajikistan | 12% | Aligned with Russia/China |
| North America | <1% | Dependent on Imports |
For NATO members, the reliance on adversarial nations for a metal required for everything from bullets to Bradley Fighting Vehicles is a strategic liability. The find in Ontario offers a rare opportunity to re-shore a critical link in the defense value chain.
Comparative Advantage: From New Brunswick to Ontario
Canada is not a stranger to antimony production, but the industry has been dormant for years. Historically, the Beaver Brook mine in New Brunswick was a significant producer, providing a blueprint for how Canadian stibnite deposits can be brought to market. However, with Beaver Brook’s intermittent operations and the global supply crunch, the focus has shifted to “The North.”
Ontario’s Howells Lake deposit is being described by Critical One Energy as Canada’s largest undeveloped antimony resource. Unlike many remote finds, its proximity to the burgeoning infrastructure of the Ring of Fire provides a logistical path that was unavailable during previous exploration cycles.
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Furthermore, the emergence of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a power solution for remote mine sites could solve the energy-intensity issues that often plague northern projects. As explored in our analysis of SMRs and decarbonizing remote mines, the convergence of new energy tech and critical mineral finds is redefining project economics in 2026.
The 2026 Outlook: De-risking the Supply Chain
The path from a successful drill hole to an operational mine is long, but the timeline for antimony may be compressed by government intervention. The U.S. Department of Defense and the Canadian government have both signaled a willingness to provide direct financial support and expedited permitting for projects that address “sole-source” dependencies.
For Critical One Energy, the immediate goal is to convert visible mineralization into a NI 43-101 compliant resource. If the grades hold up to historical expectations, Howells Lake could transition from an exploration story to a strategic asset of continental importance.
The broader mining sector is watching closely. Following the Per Geijer rare earths discovery and the Energy Fuels rare earth milestone in Utah, the market has shown a high appetite for “monopoly breakers.”
Conclusion: A New Era of Resource Nationalism
The discovery at Howells Lake arrives at a time when resource nationalism and strategic partnerships are the new rules of the game. As China’s export ban on antimony remains in place, the value of a domestic find increases exponentially.
For operators in Ontario, the challenge will be to scale production efficiently while navigating the environmental and social expectations of the modern mining era. However, with visible stibnite across 100-meter intervals and a defense industry hungry for supply, the momentum for Howells Lake appears to be just beginning.
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