American West Metals (ASX: AW1) has identified significant indium and gallium potential in re-sampling of historical results from its West Desert project in Utah.
The ongoing program has unveiled numerous high-profile targets for the company to drill-test in 2026.
Results have so far returned gallium intersects over 518 metres of as much as 77.3 grams per tonne in a geological setting similar to the nearby Apex mine—the only mine developed in the Western world primarily for germanium and gallium production.
The results have also added new targets at what is already the largest indium resource in the US, with bonanza grades of up to 1,055g/t.
Upsized Follow-Up Program
American West assayed 116 samples from six drill holes that have confirmed critical metal-rich mineralisation outside the current
West Desert resource, with grades as high as 324 grams per tonne indium, 41.9g/t gallium, 4.9% copper, 155g/t silver, and 5.4g/t gold.
The company will now follow up the success of the initial re-sampling with a larger program of historical drill core from both within and outside of the project’s known mineral resource estimate (MRE) footprint.
It also plans to sample mine waste from the historical silver-lead-zinc mines at West Desert to test for the presence of critical metals—in particular gallium, indium, and antimony.
American West announced last updated the West Desert MRE in December 2023, adding 23.8 million ounces of indium and 119,000oz gold to the existing 1.3Mt of zinc, 49,000t of copper, and 10Moz of silver.
Multiple Growth Pathways
Managing director Dave O’Neill said West Desert was entering its most important growth phase yet.
“We see multiple, independent pathways to materially grow the
scale and strategic importance of this asset,” he said.
”In addition to the upcoming drill program, we are progressing work for the waste dump re-sampling program to test waste from historical silver and base metal mines—large volumes of the historical waste is accessible from surface and can be easily recovered for sampling and potential processing.”
The company will commence its diamond and reverse circulation drilling program in early 2026, with the expanded re-sampling of historical drill core and mine waste to occur beforehand.
