Montana: Oro -Y- Plata (Gold and Silver)

This motto compliments Montana’s title as ‘The Treasure State’, other suggested gold-oriented mottos such as “El Dorado” (“the place of gold”). “Oro y Plata” appears on both the official State Seal and the State Flag. Mining has been in our heritage long before statehood. The importance of this history to the State’s identity is found in its Motto – “Oro -Y- Plata”, which is Spanish for “Gold and Silver”. 

Montana has a full, rich history of gold mining. Gold rushes in the early 1860s helped advance the state from unknown and uncharted wilderness to Statehood, to today's flourishing commercial hub.  Mining is found all across the State. Copper, silver and gold was and still is, found in many areas of Western and Central Montana. Many other minerals were found and mined across the state. The platinum and palladium producing Sibanye-Stillwater Mine near Nye is one example of various other minerals mined in Montana, the Black Butte Copper Project near White Sulfur Springs another and lastly the world-class copper and silver, Libby Exploration Project near Libby. These are some of the more recognizable and well known mine projects in the state. To be fair, The Eastern flank of the Cabinet Mountains, home to the Cabinet Wilderness Area, contains literally, thousands of small mine works scattered from the Canadian line to the Idaho border and beyond. Legacy mining is what built the Montana we now call our home and epitomizes the Treasure State title.

Sibanye Mine in Nye, Montana

Sibanye-Stillwater Mining Co. operates the Stillwater and East Boulder mines in Montana, which are part of its US PGM Operations. The located on the front range of the Beartooth Mountains, with elevations exceeding 2,700m above sea level. The mine utilizes selective mechanized ramp and fill mining methods. The Stillwater mine produces platinum and palladium in concentrate.

Libby Exploration Project/aka Montanore

The (formally known as the Montanore) Libby Exploration Project near Libby, Montana is a prime example of this. 2 decades to re-permit a once fully permitted mine. The mine and the 14,000 ft adit that the original Noranda Mining created has been the most studied and documented project in history, yet the environmental groups continue their attempt to slow or stop the project. Hecla Mining is one of the few mining companies in the world that has the experience of mining under a national monument in Alaska and financial backing to bring this project forward. Further proof of the legacy is the manner and care taken to reclaim the environmentally benign Troy Mine project that Hecla bought along with the Rock Creek project. Reclamation is almost complete and has been viewed as one of the best examples of how to successfully mine and then reclaim a mine project at the end of its lifespan. The Troy Mine acquisition and the immediate reclamation prove that Hecla is NOT a company to mine and run! The locals look forward to being a partner with Hecla in a safe and environmentally sound manner that is the hallmark of Hecla's mining legacy. The local economy will get a boost from the project as well as the project moves from the exploration phase to the production phase. We don't mine like it's 1889!! This has become a motto I used in the 8 years I spent in the Montana Legislature! Technology has enabled us to press forward new mine projects that bring safer, more environmentally sound projects. That statement needs to be clarified as it typically takes 10-30 years to bring a mine project to fruition due to environmental groups continual litigation attempting to stop new projects. Yes, Montana IS the Treasure State! Yes, it lives up to its motto of Gold and Silver! AND We don't mine like it's 1889!!!