Larvotto Resources has become Australia’s newest critical mineral producer after dispatching its maiden shipment of antimony concentrate from its Hillgrove mine in New South Wales.
The initial 68-tonne delivery of antimony concentrate was collected at the mine gate by offtake partner Wogen Resources.
The dispatch satisfies key contractual conditions, triggering an initial part-payment under the agreement and establishing Hillgrove as an active, revenue-generating operation.
Larvotto Managing Director Ron Heeks described the departure of the first truck as a proud milestone for both the company and the nation’s critical minerals sector, as well as a significant economic booster for the New England region.
“The delivery of the first antimony concentrate is a proud moment for the company, as Hillgrove becomes a revenue generating mine and officially Australia’s newest supplier of critical minerals,” Heeks said.
“This is a key milestone for Australia’s critical mineral and mining sector and is also significant for the New England region, supporting local jobs, businesses and economic activity.”
Operational ramp-up at the site is progressing ahead of schedule, with processing plant availability exceeding expectations and daily processing tonnages steadily expanding alongside improvements in concentrate grades.
With the antimony flotation circuit operating at a steady rate, processing teams are turning their attention towards preparing the mine’s initial gold concentrate shipment and upcoming gold doré bar production.
When fully operational, the Hillgrove mine is projected to produce approximately 4,900 tonnes of antimony and 40,500 ounces of gold per annum.
Looking ahead, ongoing metallurgical testwork across Australia and Canada continues to yield positive results for extracting tungsten.
Larvotto aims to finalise the equipment and processing flowsheet to introduce tungsten as a high-value third revenue stream by 2027.
