American Tungsten is carrying out the rehabilitation of the historic IMA Mine in Patterson, Idaho, US, to improve North America’s tungsten ore supply.
The IMA Mine, a past-producing tungsten-molybdenum property, is now the focus of an expanded drilling programme to explore molybdenum-bearing intrusion targets beneath the old tungsten production areas.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The IMA Mine, with a production history dating back to 1945, yielded approximately 199,449 tonnes (t) of tungsten trioxide before ceasing operations in 1957.
Since then, various operators have explored the site for molybdenum and tungsten. American Tungsten’s current efforts are directed at re-establishing safe access to the mine’s previously rehabilitated areas and underground drill stations.
Rockhead Consulting, an underground mining contractor, has been engaged to initiate the mine’s rehabilitation.
American Tungsten CEO Ali Haji said: “As global demand for secure critical metals intensifies, American Tungsten continues to build strategic momentum, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of North America’s tungsten supply chain. The company’s dual approach – revitalizing a historically rich asset while defining a maiden resource – positions American Tungsten at the forefront of sustainable resource advancement.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe rehabilitation of the IMA Mine is one of American Tungsten’s key strategic priorities, which include site remediation for long-term sustainability and the commencement of work to assess the condition of underground infrastructure.
The plan includes further assessment of existing portals, finalising development plans, and conducting confirmatory infill drilling and metallurgical testing.
In addition to defining the IMA Mine’s resources through exploratory drilling, American Tungsten aims to complete more than 6,000ft of underground diamond drilling in the third quarter of 2025 (Q3 2025).
This will help expand tungsten resources and assess the underlying molybdenum porphyry system. The company is also working on digitising historical drilling records and constructing digital geological models.
To support its long-term objectives, American Tungsten is engaging in discussions with the US Department of Defense and the US Department of Energy to secure partnerships and non-dilutive financing.
The company is also working on expanding its shareholder base and has received conditional approval for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange.
Haji added: “Following several months of detailed environmental assessment, engineering design and community engagement, American Tungsten is entering the next phase of its IMA Mine rehabilitation strategy. With a fully-funded programme, the company has secured preliminary approval for its site remediation plan, which focuses on restoring the existing infrastructure to support future production goals.”
