A southwest Idaho mining company has received an $18 million investment from a Boise private equity firm that will allow the company to explore a 19th century mine for several minerals.

Thunder Mountain Gold Inc., with offices in Garden City, said its agreement with ISR Capital will allow that firm to earn up to 75 percent ownership in the project.

Thunder Mountain officials hope to begin exploration on the South Mountain Mine, located in southwest Owyhee County, 20 miles southeast of Jordan Valley.

The mine exploration will look for silver, zinc, gold, copper and lead, said Eric Jones, Thunder Mountain CEO and president.

The joint venture is called Owyhee Gold Trust LLC.

ISR Capital is a partnership. The partners are Ramond Ku, a Taiwanese business magnate, and Sima Muroff, who has invested in niche markets and focused on sustainable job creation, according to the equity firm's website.

Ku made millions helping wealthy Chinese leave Hong Kong in the 1980s. Muroff, the son of Russian immigrants, is a developer of residential real estate.

A call to ISR on Monday afternoon was not returned.

Bill Roberts: 377-6408