U.S. investment firm funds key mineral projects

Darwin Financial Company (DFC), which focuses on investing in strategic mineral resource projects in the U.S., has entered into an agreement with base metals

 developer INYOAG LLC to provide the latter with $55 million in project funding to develop the Inyo, Calif. County's Darwin Mine.

DFC said the funding was used to modernise critical infrastructure at the Darwin mine, carry out exploration and improve operational efficiency. The Darwin project, 

which aims to restart the historic old mine, has previously invested more than $749 million in infrastructure.

The Darwin mine has significant proven reserves of copper, lead, zinc, tungsten and silver, the company said. In addition, the mine contains germanium, hafnium,

 gallium and antimony, minerals that are extremely important for fibre optics, night-vision equipment, aerospace alloys and 5G networks.

The investment will be used to expand and modernise the mine's operating facilities, with a focus on minerals that are critical to the US technology and defence 

industries.DFC says the project is important for improving the security of the US supply chain and reducing the country's dependence on key minerals from abroad.

 DFC and INYOAG are also planning a 100 MW solar project to support sustainable energy production at the mine and in the surrounding area, utilising existing 

pipeline rights of way to the local power sector.

Additionally, DFC said the mine's naturally cooled limestone shell could be used to design a new server room as a cutting-edge data centre for AI and Bitcoin.

‘This agreement is an important sign that we are fulfilling our obligation to secure the future supply of critical U.S. minerals,’ Derek Pew, a partner at DFC, said in 

a press release. ‘By partnering with INYOAG, we are not just investing in a mine, we are investing in U.S. technology leadership and national security.’