Resolution Minerals Limited (ASX: RML; OTCQB: RLMLF) has appointed Dr Adam Roper as Chief Metallurgist – Critical Metals Extraction, as the Company moves to accelerate production of antimony, tungsten and gold amid growing US demand for strategically important minerals. The move strengthens the Company’s downstream processing capability at its Horse Heaven Project in Idaho.
Figure 1: Resolution Minerals Limited
The appointment comes as neighbouring Perpetua Resources Inc. partners with the Idaho National Laboratory to commission and operate a modular pilot processing plant which is expected to be capable of recovering critical and defense-related minerals.
About Dr Adam Roper
Dr Roper holds a PhD in antimony geochemistry, specialising in solubility, mobility and environmental dispersion. He is a specialist in critical minerals extraction with more than a decade of experience across mining, chemical processing and downstream metals production. His technical expertise directly supports Resolution’s goal to establish modern, high-efficiency antimony processing infrastructure.
Figure 2: Dr Adam Roper, Chief Metallurgist – Critical Metals Extraction
His experience includes:
- 10 years of end-to-end process development for antimony, lithium, niobium, rare earths and precious metals
- Previous roles with ANSTO Minerals, consulting on advanced chemical processing flowsheets for critical minerals
- Expertise in complex flowsheet design, challenging chemistries and unconventional mineral systems
Dr Roper has successfully led project teams across mining and chemical processing, consistently delivering outcomes on time and within budget.
Leading Resolution’s Downstream Processing Strategy
Dr Roper will spearhead Resolution’s initiative to design, pilot and develop an onshore processing pathway for antimony, tungsten and gold from Horse Heaven. The Project sits adjacent to Perpetua’s Stibnite operations, which received a USD 2 billion EXIM Bank loan offer in 2025.
His mandate includes:
- Developing scalable and commercially robust processing flowsheets tailored to Horse Heaven’s polymetallic mineralisation
- Assessing and piloting downstream refining pathways for high-purity antimony and tungsten products
- Evaluating opportunities for co-processing and shared infrastructure within the region
- Positioning Resolution as a technically credible partner within the emerging U.S. critical minerals ecosystem
Commenting on his appointment, Dr Roper said: “RML’s Horse Heaven Project, with its proximity to Perpetua, represents an incredible opportunity to establish a U.S.-based critical minerals processing facility for the production of antimony.”
U.S. Military Confirms Plans for Domestic Critical Minerals Refineries
On 9 December 2025, the U.S. military confirmed plans to develop a fleet of small-scale refineries to produce critical minerals used in bullets, armour and weaponry. The move aims to develop domestic sources for niche materials that Chinese miners have long controlled.
Antimony is set to be the first mineral targeted by the military for domestic refining. The plans are being developed by the U.S. Army alongside Idaho National Laboratory and Perpetua Resources. Resolution’s Horse Heaven Project, directly adjacent to Perpetua’s operations, stands to benefit from this strategic federal focus.
Brett Lynch, Strategic Adviser to Resolution Minerals, welcomed Dr Roper’s appointment: “Adam’s expertise in critical metals processing, complex chemistries and flowsheet commercialisation is a major asset for Resolution.”
Antimony and Tungsten: Defence-Critical Metals in Short Supply
Antimony is needed for ammunition primers, night vision goggles, armour-piercing bullets and flame retardants. Tungsten plays a role in important defence platforms such as tank armour, armour-piercing artillery and hypersonic weapons.
Figure 5: Antimony applications across defence, technology and clean energy sectors
The United States currently has no domestic antimony mines in operation. China controls approximately 90 per cent of the global antimony supply alongside Russia and Tajikistan. In September 2024, China restricted global antimony exports. In December 2024, China completely banned antimony exports to the United States.
Golden Gate Discovery Expands Mineralised Footprint
Resolution’s exploration momentum continues at the Golden Gate Prospect. In November 2025, the Company commenced reverse circulation drilling to step out from the new gold discovery.
Three RC holes are testing strike, width and depth extensions of continuous gold mineralisation.
The Prospect sits only 6 kilometres from Perpetua’s Stibnite Gold-Antimony mine.
Craig Lindsay, CEO of U.S. Operations, stated: “The first three diamond core holes at Golden Gate all intersected broad, continuous gold mineralisation from surface and each of them ended in mineralisation.”
Industry Outlook: Critical Minerals
The global market for critical minerals was valued at about USD 328 billion in 2024 and is projected to rise to nearly USD 587 billion by 2032, expanding at an average annual rate of 7.5% over the period from 2025 to 2032. The sector is undergoing a period of structural change, driven in part by shifting geopolitics and concerns over supply security. In the United States, federal policy has placed greater emphasis on strengthening domestic supply chains for metals deemed vital to national defence. Lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would allocate an additional USD 2.5 billion to the Department of Defense for grants supporting critical minerals projects.
Rising demand from electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and the semiconductor industry is further intensifying the need for domestic production of these materials. Against this backdrop, and with growing bipartisan support for reshoring critical mineral supply chains, Horse Heaven is positioning itself to benefit from the next wave of public funding aimed at bolstering US-based producers.
Gold Markets Strengthen Project Economics
Gold continues to trade at elevated levels, supporting Horse Heaven’s project economics. As of 15 December 2025, gold trades at USD 4,322.99 per ounce, up USD 27.68 or 0.64 per cent.
The metal has increased 1.18 per cent over the last 24 hours and climbed 61.64 per cent over one year. The continued positive trend is underpinned by geopolitical uncertainty, inflation and stronger central bank demand.
The mineralisation at Horse Heaven, which is a potent combination of gold, antimony, tungsten and silver, delivers diversified income streams plus opportunity for upside development.
Share Price Performance Reflects Strategic Progress
Resolution Minerals has performed noticeably better than both the market and its competitors:
Share Price Activity (ASX)
- Last Price: AUD 0.049 [as of 15 December 2025]
- Market Capitalisation: AUD 86.14 million
52-Week Range
Figure 8: Resolution Minerals share price performance in 2025
The share price performance reflects sustained exploration success, consolidation of strategic assets and strong institutional funding. Resolution’s combination of outstanding drill results, strategic appointments and U.S. critical minerals policy alignment creates a compelling narrative.
Conclusion
Dr Adam Roper’s appointment is a clear move towards increasing production capability by Resolution Minerals. Dr Roper’s appointment comes as governments and industry intensify efforts to secure reliable supplies of critical minerals, amid concerns over dependence on overseas producers.
With the United States moving to strengthen domestic processing capacity for defence-related metals, his arrival is seen as a timely boost for projects seeking to align with those priorities, particularly in antimony and tungsten.
