Montana
Montana antimony smelter expands amid federal push for domestic sources
Thirteen miles west of Thompson Falls and the banks of the Clark Fork River, a dirt road leads to a cluster of weathered green buildings and rusted remains of mining operations long quiet, until recently.
The humming comes from furnaces blasting pieces of slag into molten metal. This is Stibnite Hill, a smelting facility nestled in the Coeur D’Alene mountains. Inside, Plant Manager Rob Hill is in charge.
“This is what’s called sodium antimonate. It’s like wet sand. We run it with coal and soda ash into this furnace. It’s about 60 percent antimony.”
Hill works for United States Antimony Corporation, or USAC. It’s a small company that has quietly operated here since 1969. Now, that’s changing.
Antimony is an ingredient used in certain military applications, including flame retardants, infrared sensors and nuclear weapons.
Antimony is an ingredient used in certain military applications, including flame retardants, infrared sensors and nuclear weapons. As the Trump administration’s policies to bolster domestic mineral extraction have rolled out, the lesser-known metalloid took center stage.
“We became literally the only game in town so we really had to start running,” Hill says.
Stibnite Hill contains the only smelting facility for this material in the country. As a result, USAC was recently charged with replenishing domestic stockpiles. The project raises hopes and concerns for locals who have experienced the impacts of mining industries in western Montana.
For several decades, the U.S. has relied on foreign imports for antimony. Recent trade wars have compromised those imports.
In 2023, China, Russia and Tajikistan controlled about 90 percent of global antimony production. In December 2024, China banned all exports of it to the United States. That ban has since been lifted, but trade today remains stringent.
Last year, United States Antimony Corporation won a $248 million sole-source contract to resupply the federal government. CEO Gary Evans says they were the only company qualified to bid.
Last year, United States Antimony Corporation won a $248 million sole-source contract to resupply the federal government.
CEO Gary Evans says they were the only company qualified to bid.
“When the government needed more antimony ingots, which are used as an inventory supply for future wars, they contacted us.”
The company grew significantly over the last three years. Their revenues more than doubled in 2025, as did their stock value. Most of that growth came prior to their first antimony deliveries to the federal government.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte attended the groundbreaking ceremony and issued a press release supporting the company’s growth.
“We’ve been able to basically take an older, sleepy company and revitalize it with a new board, new management team and new directions,” Evans says.
The goal is to smelt 400 tons of antimony per month, ideally with ore mined from Montana, Idaho or Alaska. The expansion project cost $20 million and will add about 25 new jobs.
The goal is to smelt 400 tons of antimony per month, ideally with ore mined from Montana, Idaho or Alaska. To meet demands, the company must expand production capacity up to 500%.
The expansion project cost $20 million and will add about 25 new jobs.
One January morning, Plant Manager Rob Hill stands next to a cylindrical stone furnace, roaring with heat.
“What we need to do is get the antimony out of it,” he says. “We just load it into there, heat it up, it melts down. We’ll pour this whole thing up, this whole furnace will pour into these molds …”
In the next room, wooden pallets are stacked with dozens of shiny, grey antimony ingots.
“There’s over 100,000 pounds sitting here right now,” Hill says.
Their primary role today is smelting, but officials say they plan to reopen the underground antimony mine here too. Company officials say some surface mining has already begun.
Just down the road, Kevin Bush owns the Wild Coyote Saloon, a restaurant, bar and campground. He says the uptick in activity has been good for business.
“I thought it was good, we needed jobs in this area, so yeah, I had no problems with it.”
Inside the saloon, Plains-local Medric Jones sips a drink with his wife. He grew up a half hour from Thompson Falls and remembers mines supplying most of the jobs around.
“That’s jobs for the people in the middle of nowhere. It’s jobs for these people, us people,” Jones says.
But the legacy of mining in the region also spurs concerns. Prospect Creek, a tributary of the Clark Fork River that runs adjacent to Stibnite Hill, is already on the state’s list of impaired waterways due to mining pollution.
Cesar Hernandez is with grassroots conservation organization, the Cabinet Resource Group.
“The organization I represent is not against mining, but if it has to be done it needs to be done right,” Hernandez says.
He’s concerned about any mining projects approved under an era of weakened environmental protections and mining regulations.
“This isn’t just an issue of jobs and big money, but there will be increasing impacts from whatever goes on up at the mine.”
U.S. Antimony Corporation officials responded to these concerns saying they plan to “put the land back” in better shape than it was before.
Back in Thompson Falls, Robert Hill reflects on his 32 years with the company. He says the rapid growth has been impactful.
“This little backwoods Montana rural company is suddenly a hub of some very, very important materials, and we’re a name and we are not used to that. We really aren’t. It’s a unique position to be in, for sure,” Hill says.
The full expansion is estimated to be complete by the end of April. They plan to provide $75 million worth of antimony to the government in 2026.
Requests for interviews with local government officials about the project were denied.
Montana’s Weather Transformation
After days of gloomy, wet, and even snowy weather across Montana, things are finally starting to turn around. And just in time, too, because we could be in for a pretty incredible night sky show.
Forecasters say skies are expected to clear enough for a strong chance to see the Aurora Borealis Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conditions are lining up across a wide stretch of the northern U.S. That includes much of Montana, along with parts of Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. If everything comes together, this could be one of those rare nights when the lights dip farther south than usual.
Maximize Your Aurora Viewing Experience
Of course, it all comes down to cloud cover. Even with strong solar activity, clouds can block the view. If you are planning to head out, keep an eye on local conditions. The best viewing window is usually late at night into the early morning hours, away from city lights.
READ MORE: Two Beautiful Montana Locations That Have Dark Skies
There is also a bigger weather picture starting to take shape.
Summer Forecast: Drier Days Ahead
The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a dry summer across both eastern and western Montana. Both regions are expected to trend drier than average, though western Montana could see slightly cooler temperatures. That could take some of the edge off the heat during peak summer months.
READ MORE: Farmer’s Almanac Predicts Dry Montana Summer with Wild Temperature Swings
For now, though, all eyes are on the sky. If the clouds cooperate, Wednesday night could bring a rare and memorable light show across Big Sky Country.
45 Jaw-Dropping Photos Of Montana’s Northern Lights
Locals submitted their best photos of Montana’s Northern Lights and they are absolutely breathtaking. Which is your favorite?
Gallery Credit: Chris
WOW: 19 Exotic-Looking Animals Surprisingly Found in America
While some are native and others arrived by accident, there are animals living quite happily in the U.S. that will make you say, “No way!” From seriously big cats to the pinkest bird you’ve ever seen, here are some of the most exotic creatures calling America home.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
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MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR’s Victoria Traxler speaks with Michael Eisenhauer, a independent running for Montana’s eastern district U.S. House seat.
Victoria Traxler: First question for you is, what makes you the best person for the job?
Michael Eisenhauer: Well, thanks, Victoria, thanks for the invite to be here. I’m happy to be able to visit with you today. There’s really two points to make. The bottom line is that an independent representative is better positioned to be a problem solver rather than be a part of the problem. So enough of this bickering in Congress, enough of the right versus left, enough of party bosses dictating who and where and how and when to vote. An independent congressman can deliver on issues important to Montanans. And in the end, that’s good for Montana. So the second point to make is that I personally have a very strong belief in public service and citizenship. I’m a 24-year Army veteran, 35 years as a practicing physician. I’ve always known that I’m not done, and I have more to give.
Victoria Traxler: What previous or relevant experience would you bring to Congress?
Michael Eisenhauer: Well, I learned long ago that it’s not OK to just complain about something without being willing to contribute towards a better solution, whether that be a specific military mission or whether that’s an area where controversy exists. So as a physician, I’ve really learned to follow a structured decision-making process, where you start out by first researching all sides of the issues, all possibilities surrounding any particular issue or dilemma. Second, then consider alternatives, such as consider an alternative medical diagnosis, for example. Third, and then recommend an outcomes-based or an evidence-based solution where we actually have tried something in the past and shown that it works, rather than just take a pie in the sky, “shoot an arrow in the sky and see what happens” approach. And then fourth, being able to monitor and adjust fire as needed. It’s not just a one touch and walk away approach.
Victoria Traxler: The United States Supreme Court overturned the tariffs President Trump enacted, saying he overstepped into congressional authority. Do you agree with that ruling?
Michael Eisenhauer: Yes, I do. The Constitution is very clear that Congress has the obligation and the power of the purse, and that includes tariffs and financial relationships like that with other nations. So yeah, those tariffs, I think, were a direct hit against our economy. Many of them were ill-conceived, many of them have now been reversed or, as you have just demonstrated, found to be non-constitutional.
Victoria Traxler: What is a top priority for constituents in your district?
Michael Eisenhauer: First is affordability, whether it be housing, health insurance, food, fuel, gas, and diesel prices, even more so in the last couple of months. Second, there’s an overwhelming concern that we need to maintain rural healthcare, which of course is important to me as a physician. And then third is this agricultural economy that I already kind of talked about where we have high input costs, low output costs. And then I might add that a Right to Repair is critically important
Victoria Traxler: The Trump administration made a huge push to downsize the federal government. Are you happy with the results of that effort?
Michael Eisenhauer: No, not completely, you know. It’s a good thing to reduce or eliminate waste fraud and abuse, and every effort to protect whistleblowers should be made to that end because that’s frequently where the best information about waste fraud abuse comes from. But the DOGE effort or the government right-sizing effort really took a sledgehammer to the problem.
Victoria Traxler: Do you believe that further downsizing is necessary?
Michael Eisenhauer: Government is too big, but yet there is a role for government in certain facets of our life. So with care, things can be trimmed or adjusted or reformed. But let’s just say, for example, I don’t agree with the elimination of the Department of Education.
Victoria Traxler: Now in your district, there’s a lot of discussion right now around energy and mineral development. How would you balance the protection and development of Montana’s natural resources if you were elected?
Michael Eisenhauer: Well, this kind of touches on the whole public lands and public hands issue. Certainly, I would protect public lands. But at the same point in time, Montana is gifted with a certain amount of energy that can be put into production and minerals that, if managed appropriately, can provide significant funding for our public schools and for our local communities. Now, that said, there can be. And there really should be a happy medium.
Victoria Traxler: That was Michael Eisenhower running for Montana’s Eastern U.S. House seat. Thanks so much for joining us today.
Michael Eisenhauer: Absolutely my pleasure, Victoria. Thanks for having me.
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