American West Metals (ASX:AW1) is partnering with Washington DC consultancy GreenMet to advance government engagement for its West Desert Project in Utah, which hosts the largest US indium deposit.
According to the company, GreenMet will support the development of West Desert to create a resilient US supply chain for indium, replacing current total reliance on imports.
The US supply chain was disrupted in 2025 when China listed indium among critical metals subject to export restrictions.
GreenMet is led by Drew Horn, a former senior US critical minerals and energy security official with experience across The White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Energy, and the Department of War. Horn also previously served as a US Army Special Forces and Marine Corps officer.
Managing Director Dave O’Neill says the partnership represents an important step forward as the company seeks to unlock West Desert’s strategic potential.
“GreenMet brings deep experience and relationships across the US Government and critical minerals sector, providing American West with a strong platform to engage with US initiatives focused on rebuilding domestic critical minerals supply chains.”
The company intends to pursue government funding opportunities as well as strategic partnerships and potential offtake arrangements to support West Desert’s expansion and development.
Horn says the collaboration creates a framework to advance West Desert through connections with government, as well as US investors and industrial partners.
“Our objective is to accelerate the creation of a US supply chain for indium and other critical metals capable of supporting many generations of advanced manufacturing in the US,” Horn says.
West Desert contains an inferred mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 33.7 million tonnes at 20.0 grams per tonne indium (In) for 23.8 million ounces.
The company notes only 35% of drill samples used in historical and current MREs were assayed for indium, suggesting the scale of the endowment could be much larger than currently defined.
Recent exploration continues to highlight the resource’s growth potential, with drill hole WD26-01 intersecting 108m at 25.1g/t In, including grades up to 140.5g/t In, over 400m east of the existing deposit.
The Utah Geological Survey received a US$300,000 ($421,028) federal grant to complete a detailed study on West Desert’s indium, examining how the deposit formed and the deportment of indium throughout the deposit and mineral district.
West Desert is located on private land owned 100% by American West, providing a clear pathway for development approvals compared to projects on federal land. Utah is notably rated as one of the best mining jurisdictions in the US by the Fraser Institute.
The project sits 160km southwest of Salt Lake City within the Sevier Orogenic Belt, which hosts the Bingham Canyon copper deposit and Tintic Mining District.
American West Metals is an Australian clean energy mining company focused on major base metal deposits in tier-one jurisdictions within North America.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: American West Metals
