Antimony - a mineral deemed critical by the United States, but one that ignites a longstanding rift between the federal government and native nations
Antimony is a resource regarded as critical by the U.S. government. It is used in clean energy technology and in military weaponry. There is currently no domestic source of the mineral.
But, there is an abandoned mining site in Idaho called the Stibnite Mine. Perpetua Resources, a Boise mining company, awaits approval to mine the site and provide a domestic source of antimony as the war in Ukraine rages. Doing so, though, would mean breaking longstanding Nez Perce treaty rights to the land around the mine and worsening the already devastated landscape.
The approval process for mine production at the Stibnite Mine is ongoing. Perpetua awaits a Final Environmental Impact Statement from the Forest Service, expected at the end of the year. Meanwhile, the Nez Perce nation pursues litigation with the mining company.