Pantera Minerals Secures Drilling Contract for Maiden US Antimony Program
Pantera Minerals has executed a drilling services contract with Dycus 3D Drilling Company for its maiden drill program at the 100%-owned Gillham Antimony-Silver Project in southwest Arkansas, USA. The program comprises 10 diamond core holes for approximately 1,500m, targeting mineralisation at depth beneath the historic Davis, Stewart and May mines. This marks the first known modern drill program ever to test high-grade antimony-silver targets beneath these historic workings. The rig is scheduled to commence in the third week of August 2026, with completion expected within four to six weeks. Drill targeting is underpinned by exceptional 2026 rock chip results up to 19.2% Sb and 63.8g/t Ag.
Why the numbers matter: high-grade targets beneath historic mines
The maiden drilling campaign is supported by strong 2026 sampling results that confirmed and upgraded the geological potential beneath three historic producing mines. The program will test whether high-grade surface mineralisation extends to depth.
Stewart and May Mines
The Stewart and May Mines historically produced stibnite. 2026 rock chip sampling confirmed and upgraded the prospects with high-grade antimony and silver intercepts:
| Sample ID | Antimony (Sb) | Silver (Ag) | Lead (Pb) | Zinc (Zn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GR058 | 19.2% | 12.25g/t | 1.1% | – |
| GR072 | 9.30% | – | – | – |
| GR055 | 7.55% | 63.8g/t | 7.44% | 8.6% |
| GR069 | 4.92% | – | – | – |
| GR008 | 3.92% | 10.3g/t | 0.47% | – |
Soil geochemistry defined two coherent antimony anomalies over approximately 400m and 500m strike, linked by a broader +1ppm Sb trend extending over 2,000m of strike. Soils peaked at 2,660ppm Sb. Drilling will test potential east-west mineralised structures beneath the historic workings, with district-scale potential across a ~2km mineralised corridor.
Davis Mine
The Davis Mine is the largest historical operation in the project area, with extensive underground development. 2026 rock chip sampling confirmed significant base metal and silver mineralisation:
- 1.96% Cu, 1.465% Zn, 0.29% Pb (GR019)
- 4.79% Pb, 0.22% Cu, 20.5g/t Ag (GR041)
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Antimony explained: why this critical mineral matters to investors
Antimony (Sb) is a metalloid element primarily used in flame retardants, defence applications, and emerging battery and energy storage technologies. It is a designated critical mineral in the United States, reflecting strategic importance to national supply chains. The designation recognises the country’s near-total reliance on imports, predominantly from China. High-grade antimony mineralisation, such as the 19.2% Sb intercept at Gillham, refers to ore containing economically significant concentrations of the element. A US-based, 100%-owned antimony-silver project positions Pantera in a strategically important domestic supply gap at a time when critical mineral sourcing is under heightened policy focus.
The investment case: first-mover on an untested high-grade system
The execution of the drilling contract marks a material de-risking milestone, advancing Pantera from surface sampling and mapping into first-ever drill testing at depth. The maiden program tests mineralisation beneath historic producing mines, meaning known mineralisation with no prior modern drilling. This first-mover advantage carries exploration upside: if drilling confirms continuity and grade at depth, follow-up and step-out drilling across the broader Gillham target pipeline becomes justified. Results will be incorporated into Pantera’s geological model to guide potential extension drilling across the 2,000m mineralised corridor identified through soil geochemistry.
Barnaby Egerton-Warburton, Executive Chairman and CEO
“Executing this drilling contract marks the beginning of one of the most important milestones in Pantera’s history. Within weeks we will commence the first known drilling ever undertaken at the Gillham Project. Our 2026 sampling programs delivered exceptional grades – rock chips up to 19.2% antimony and 63.8g/t silver, and soils peaking at 2,660ppm Sb – and every one of these ten holes is designed to test mineralisation at depth beneath the historic Davis, Stewart and May mines. Antimony is a designated critical mineral in the United States and with the rig turning in the third week of August, shareholders can look forward to a steady flow of news through the remainder of the year.”
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What’s next: timeline and upcoming catalysts
Pantera has outlined the following sequence of activities through the remainder of 2026:
- Finalisation of drill pad access and site preparation
- Mobilisation of Dycus 3D Drilling Company during the third week of August 2026
- Drilling completion expected within four to six weeks
- Assay results reported to market as received, validated and interpreted
- Continued analysis of potential additional US projects
The “steady flow of news” theme is anchored to assay results, which will determine follow-up and step-out drilling across the target pipeline. The maiden program tests whether high-grade surface mineralisation extends to depth beneath three historic mines, with district-scale potential across a ~2km corridor.
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