News-Miner opinion: Just 15 miles north of Fairbanks, something small but mighty is taking shape — and it could put our community on the national map in a whole new way.
Felix Gold Ltd. is laying the groundwork to launch America’s first domestic antimony production in over 30 years at its Treasure Creek project. You may not hear much about antimony in everyday conversation, but make no mistake: This silvery mineral is critical to modern life. It’s used in everything from semiconductors to electric vehicle batteries to military-grade flame retardants — and the United States is desperate for it. China and Russia control about 75% of the world’s supply, and last year China cut off antimony exports to the U.S. altogether.
Thanks to high-grade antimony mineralization and an old mining footprint from World War I and II efforts, Treasure Creek is poised to help fill that gap. Felix Gold plans to build a small-scale, low-impact mine — think placer gold mine size, not mega-mine — that could start production by the end of 2025. The ore grades they are seeing are impressive, and the company’s early trenching results show Treasure Creek has real potential to deliver.
That’s good news for national security and for Fairbanks’ economy. New mining jobs, opportunities for local contractors and service providers, and infrastructure improvements could all ripple outward from this project. With Alaska’s economy always looking for its next big — or in this case, small — thing, Treasure Creek’s timing couldn’t be better.
But before we roll out the red carpet, Fairbanks needs to ask the right questions. Small mines still have real impacts. Felix Gold says it’s committed to community engagement and minimizing environmental disruption — and we need to hold them to that. Rigorous permitting, transparent environmental studies and real consultation with nearby rural communities and tribes must be part of the plan, not an afterthought.
There’s a history lesson here too. Treasure Creek isn’t starting from scratch. The area hosted two historic antimony mines that supplied the U.S. during wartime. That “brownfield” history, combined with access to roads, power and a skilled local workforce, gives this project a head start. But it also gives Fairbanks a responsibility to make sure past mistakes aren’t repeated.
Beyond jobs and security, Treasure Creek presents a bigger opportunity: positioning Fairbanks as a critical minerals hub. As the world shifts toward clean energy, high-tech manufacturing and supply chain security, Alaska’s mineral wealth — responsibly developed — could become a major advantage. Projects like Treasure Creek can be the start of something bigger, but only if the groundwork is laid thoughtfully today.
City and borough leaders, university researchers, workforce developers — all should be gearing up to support this new chapter. Fairbanks can lead, but it must lead wisely.
It’s not often that a project checks boxes for economic growth, national security and local jobs all at once. Treasure Creek could do exactly that — but only if we make sure the development happens with our community’s voice front and center, protecting both our economy and our environment.
Small mine, big stakes. Fairbanks needs to be ready.
