PRESS RELEASE: China’s Grip Loosens: GDM Ready as US – Australia Forge Critical Metals Alliance

Great Divide Mining Ltd (ASX:GDM), welcomes the landmark agreement struck between the United States and Australia under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“It’s a major step forward in securing the supply of Critical Metals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs),” said GDM CEO Justin Haines today. “These are strategic industries and we at GDM have been preparing over many years.”

“For too long the world has relied on a supply chain dominated by one country,” Haines explained. “China accounts for approximately 69% of global critical metal and rare earth mining output and about 90% of global refining capacity.”

Critical Metals, including the so-called Rare Earth Elements, have become indispensable to modern technology:- from EV motors and batteries to wind-turbine generators, smartphone speakers, medical imaging, and defence systems.

“The industry has seen this coming for decades,” said Haines. “China began acquiring control of global critical-metal and rare-earth mines, resources, and refining capacity around the world as far back as the 1990s. The warning signs were clear, but few were ready to act.”

“At GDM,” Haines continued, “our flagship Coonambula Project in Queensland — and specifically the historic Banshee antimony-gold prospect – hosts assays of antimony up to 65.3% Sb in rock-chip sampling.”

Antimony is used in flame retardants, batteries, semiconductors, and modern metal alloys used in aviation turbines. Currently a $US2.0B global market its’ market size is projected to more than double by 2035 to $US5.0B.

GDM and its joint-venture partner Dart Mining (ASX:DTM) have laid the groundwork for one of Australia’s most compelling antimony-gold prospects. Historic drilling and surface sampling include results such as 3 m @ 9.18% Sb (including 1 m @ 20% Sb) and rock-chip assays up to 65.3% Sb and 17.0 g/t Au. The joint venture is now targeting a maiden JORC resource in the near term, positioning GDM to transition swiftly from explorer to producer.

“This bilateral deal marks more than diplomacy — it’s an industrial inflection point,” said Haines.

“GDM’s early positioning means we are well placed to contribute promptly to diversified supply outside the dominant Chinese hub.”

ENDS