Locksley Resources has commenced a high-resolution helicopter magnetic and radiometric survey at its Mojave project in California, aiming to identify new drilling targets for rare earths and antimony. The survey is being conducted by the Colorado-based firm EDCON-PRJ and involves 40-meter flight lines at an altitude of just 35 meters above the Mojave terrain. Australian geophysical company SGC is overseeing the operation, which includes data capture and processing for structural interpretation crucial for the upcoming drilling phase.
With a data density that is five times greater than previous surveys conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which utilized 100-by-200 meter line spacings, this initiative promises to provide clear imagery and detect concealed mineralized structures overlooked in earlier datasets. Kerrie Matthews, managing director and CEO of Locksley Resources, stated, “Our exploration strategy is to both advance the already identified El Campo REE and Desert antimony mine prospects.”
The newly designed survey is set to enhance exploration capabilities significantly. Magnetic readings will follow the north-northeast structures associated with antimony deposits at the Desert antimony mine (DAM) and Hendricks prospects. In parallel, the radiometric elements will seek out anomalies in thorium levels, which indicate the presence of rare earth-rich carbonatites.
Locksley”s systematic mapping has already yielded positive results, notably discovering the high-grade Hendricks silver prospect, where assays revealed silver grades of up to 219 grams per tonne. This prospect is located 2.5 kilometers from Locksley”s key target, the historic DAM, which was last mined in 1937 and is one of the four known high-grade antimony occurrences in the United States. Recent rock chips collected from the DAM returned an impressive 46 percent antimony and over 1 kilogram per tonne silver, signaling a renewed exploration effort at Mojave.
When the helicopter concludes its mission in early November, SGC will process the data and generate new drilling targets to support Locksley”s 2026 exploration campaign. The survey integrates with a broader strategy that includes LiDAR mapping and the reprocessing of existing gravity and satellite imagery to create a detailed three-dimensional geological model of the Mojave project.
Additionally, Locksley is preparing to map the historical workings at DAM, with plans for sampling and drilling in the coming year, contingent on underground conditions. Matthews emphasized, “Undertaking this high-resolution survey builds on the foundational datasets which Locksley is acquiring to fast-track exploration activities across Mojave. Our exploration strategy is to both advance the already identified El Campo REE and Desert antimony mine prospects through drilling, while simultaneously aggressively exploring across the rest of our claims to grow the project pipeline.”
The Mojave project is strategically located adjacent to the major Mountain Pass rare earths mine, which is owned by MP Materials. This region is known for containing some of the richest deposits of rare earths and antimony in the United States. Following a global supply chain crisis, Washington is actively working to bolster its domestic critical minerals supply, making antimony a key focus, especially after China, which supplies a significant portion of the global demand, imposed an export ban on the metal.
Locksley is positioning itself as the only integrated mine-to-market antimony producer in the United States, combining resource development with innovative processing technology. Collaborating with Rice University in Houston, known for its advanced materials research, Locksley is poised to play a critical role in the nation”s pursuit of mineral independence. As the helicopter surveys the California desert, the information gathered could unlock new discoveries for the company, and investors are likely to keep a close eye on developments.
