American West Metals Taps Washington Expertise for US Indium Initiative
American West Metals has strategically hired the Ervin Graves Strategy Group, a leading Washington advisory firm, to guide its West Desert project in Utah toward becoming the United States' first comprehensive indium supplier. This move highlights the company's commitment to addressing America's reliance on overseas metal sources, especially following China's export restrictions that disrupted global supplies in 2025.
Strengthening Ties with US Agencies and Partners
The engagement with Ervin Graves, known for its robust government relations and experience from senior US officials, is set to deepen American West's connections with federal agencies and potential downstream partners. The firm has a proven track record, having assisted in major critical minerals funding deals, including a multi-billion-dollar package from the Pentagon for MP Materials.
West Desert stands out as a near-term development opportunity, boasting the largest indium resource in the US, alongside significant byproducts of zinc, copper, gold, and silver. American West plans a major drilling campaign soon, targeting expansions that could enhance the asset further, including new prospects for gallium.
Addressing Critical Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Indium is vital for US industries such as aerospace, defense, energy, and telecommunications. However, the supply chain faced challenges in 2025 when China imposed export curbs. With no domestic production, the US currently imports all its indium, creating a strategic vulnerability that West Desert aims to mitigate as a homegrown producer.
The company is actively seeking US government support, including potential funding through the Defence Production Act and inclusion in the Department of Energy's Critical Minerals Innovation Hub, which focuses on financing processing breakthroughs. To date, only 35 percent of drill samples from West Desert have been tested for indium, suggesting a potentially larger resource after further assays.
Project Details and Geological Significance
In 2022, the Utah Geological Survey received a $300,000 federal grant to evaluate the indium setup at West Desert, mapping its formation and distribution. The project's inferred resource is currently 33.7 million tonnes grading 20g/t indium, totaling 23.8 million ounces—a globally significant volume.
Spanning 32 square kilometers in the Sevier Orogenic Belt, an area known for major deposits like Bingham Canyon, West Desert features a zinc-copper skarn and carbonate replacement system. Mineralization is rich in sphalerite and chalcopyrite, with sulphides containing silver, indium, gold, and other critical metals, while lead and molybdenum are present at the edges.
Broader Portfolio and Future Prospects
American West's recent discussions with Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox in Sydney reaffirmed state support for the project's progress. Additionally, the company's North American portfolio is expanding, with the Storm copper project in Nunavut seeing a resource increase to over 28 million tonnes grading 1 percent copper and 3.3g/t silver.
Covering 2,200 square kilometers, Storm has only tested five percent of its 110-kilometer copper belt, leaving eight prime prospects untapped. As US policy emphasizes domestic critical mineral supply chains, West Desert is positioned to lead American West's efforts, potentially delivering essential metals like gallium and indium for national defense and economic resilience.
