The AI boom runs on metal. A two-year-old startup just raised $310m to mine it, autonomously, on US soil.

Mariana Minerals, a two-year-old startup led by former Tesla metals executive Turner Caldwell, raised $310 million to operate autonomous mines in the US, aiming to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals like copper and lithium. The company uses AI-driven software to accelerate mine development and production, with projects in Utah and Texas targeting copper and lithium output by 2027. Investors include Khosla Ventures, a16z, Breakthrough Energy, BHP, and In-Q-Tel, reflecting a mix of VC,