Overview -
Stillwater is one of the world's leading producers of platinum group metals and the only significant primary producer of palladium in the Western Hemisphere. Properties covered here include the Stillwater and East Boulder Mines near Nye, Montana and the smelter and refinery complex at Columbus, Montana. The Stillwater Mine began underground mining in 1986. The East Boulder project, some 15 miles west of Stillwater, began commercial production in 2002.
The 28-mile long JM Reef ore deposit is located in the Beartooth Mountains along the northern edge of the Beartooth Uplift and Plateau, which rise to elevations in excess of 10,000 feet above sea level. The surface outcrops of the reef have been examined, mapped and sampled for approximately 28 miles along its east-southeasterly course and over a known expression of over 8,200 feet vertically. The PGMs in the J-M Reef consist primarily of palladium and platinum. The reef also contains significant amounts of iron, copper and nickel.
In 2005 the company expects production of approximately 550,000 to 570,000 ounces of PGMs.
More than 80% of mining at the Stillwater Mine is mechanized, employing ramp and fill mining, sub-level stoping and cut and fill mining.
;)
