A significant advancement in high-purity silver production is underway in Darwin, California, where InyoAG LLC is developing one of the most resource-rich underground operations in the region. Spanning approximately 4,000 hectares with over 200 miles of tunnels, the site contains substantial deposits of tungsten, zinc, and notably silver-rich ore, positioning it as a strategic asset for high-tech material supply.
To unlock this potential, Avimetal has entered into a licensing and technology partnership with InyoAG, deploying its advanced electrowinning (EW) and electrorefining (ER) systems to produce 5N (99.999%) ultra-high purity silver. This level of purity is critical for aerospace, defense, and advanced electronics applications, where material performance and consistency are non-negotiable.
The process integrates smelting, controlled chemical dissolution, and precision electrochemical refining—where impure silver is dissolved and selectively deposited as ultra-pure metal at the cathode. As illustrated in the system flow, repeated electrowinning and electrorefining cycles ensure the removal of impurities down to trace levels, achieving the stringent 5N standard required by aerospace-grade specifications.
InyoAG is currently preparing to supply 48,000 ounces of 5N silver to Lockheed Martin, marking a major milestone in establishing a domestic supply chain for critical high-purity metals. To support this production scale, Avimetal has already supplied 10 EW/ER systems, with plans to expand to over 300 electrochemical cells within the facility.
This expansion reflects not only the scalability of Avimetal’s technology but also the growing demand for domestically refined, ultra-high purity materials in the U.S. defense and aerospace sectors.
As global supply chains continue to shift, partnerships like this demonstrate how advanced refining technologies can transform mineral resources into strategic, high-value products—right at the source.
