US Critical Metals Supply at Risk Without Success from West Desert’s 2026 Drilling
American West Metals is set to launch a major drilling campaign at its West Desert Project in Utah, aiming to expand its world-class indium resource and explore high-grade gallium mineralisation. This initiative aligns closely with the US government's renewed focus on securing domestic critical metals supply chains.
- 2026 drilling campaign to test Apex-style gallium and new indium targets
- Extensive resampling confirms high grades of indium, gallium, copper, gold, and silver
- West Desert holds the largest undeveloped indium resource in the US
- Project strategically aligned with US National Security Strategy on critical metals
- Plans include diamond and RC drilling, expanded resampling, and government engagement
Strategic Drilling Campaign Launches
American West Metals Limited (ASX – AW1) has announced a comprehensive drilling program scheduled for early 2026 at its 100% owned West Desert Project in Utah. The campaign aims to test high-grade Apex-style gallium mineralisation and expand the project's already world-class indium resource. This initiative follows an extensive resampling program that confirmed significant grades of critical metals including indium, gallium, copper, gold, and silver beyond the current resource boundaries.
Apex-Style Gallium and Indium Potential
The West Desert Project is uniquely positioned within a geological setting analogous to the renowned Apex Mine, the only operating gallium-germanium mine in the Western world. Recent drilling has intersected thick zones of gallium mineralisation, with assays reaching up to 77.3 grams per tonne. The project’s magnetite-rich carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) mineralisation is considered a direct analogue to Apex, offering significant exploration upside.
Indium, a critical metal essential for advanced electronics and clean energy technologies, is already established at West Desert as the largest undeveloped resource in the United States, with bonanza grades up to 1,055 grams per tonne. The upcoming drilling will also target new indium zones designed to materially grow this resource.
Broader Critical Metals and Exploration Upside
Beyond indium and gallium, the project hosts multiple copper, gold, and silver targets identified through resampling and historical data review. These targets lie outside the current mineral resource estimate footprint, suggesting potential for further significant critical metals volumes. Additionally, historical mine waste dumps on the property, dating back to early 1900s silver-lead-zinc mining, will be resampled for indium, gallium, antimony, and other critical metals, leveraging advances in processing technology.
Alignment with US National Security Strategy
The timing of this campaign coincides with the Trump Administration’s December 2025 National Security Strategy, which emphasizes the imperative for the United States to secure independent and reliable access to critical raw materials essential for defense and economic stability. American West Metals’ West Desert Project, located on largely private land in Utah, is strategically aligned to contribute to this national objective by supplying critical metals domestically.
Managing Director Dave O’Neill highlighted the company’s readiness with permits in hand and multiple high-priority targets defined, describing the upcoming drilling phase as the project’s most important growth phase yet. The company is actively engaging with US government agencies to advance critical metals supply chain initiatives.
Robust Resource Base and Technical Foundations
The announcement includes detailed JORC-compliant mineral resource estimates and extensive exploration data. The West Desert Deposit spans approximately 700 by 500 by 775 meters, with mineralisation open at depth and along strike. The resource encompasses zinc, copper, silver, indium, and gold, supported by rigorous sampling, drilling, and geophysical surveys. Metallurgical test work supports the potential for efficient recovery of these metals.
American West Metals plans to complement the drilling with an expanded resampling program of historical drill core and mine waste, aiming to enhance resource understanding and identify additional high-grade zones. This integrated approach underscores the project’s significant growth potential and strategic importance in the critical metals sector.
Bottom Line?
As American West Metals prepares to drill, the West Desert Project stands at the forefront of US efforts to secure critical metals supply chains, with results poised to shape the company’s next growth chapter.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the 2026 drilling confirm extensions of high-grade gallium mineralisation akin to the Apex Mine?
- How will engagement with US government agencies influence project funding and development timelines?
- What are the potential economic impacts of exploiting historical mine waste for critical metals recovery?