The Marathon PGM-Cu Project (the Project) is located 10 km north of the Town of Marathon, Ontario. The Project site is in an area characterized by dense vegetation, moderate to steep hilly terrain with a series of streams, ponds and small lakes.  The Project area is bounded to the east by the Pic River and Lake Superior to the south-west. The climate of this area is typical of northern areas within the Canadian Shield, with long winters and short, warm summers. 

The Project consists of the development of an open pit mining and milling operation.  One primary pit and several smaller satellite pits will be mined.  The total mineral reserve is estimated to be  91 million tonnes. During the Operations Phase of the Project, production will be approximately 22,000 tonnes per day.  The operating life of the mine will be approximately 11.5 years.

The Project will create an estimated 300 construction jobs, approximately 130 to 250 permanent full time positions throughout life of the mine and roughly three spin-off jobs (suppliers, contractors) in the region for each full time position. The mine workforce will reside in local and surrounding communities.

The ore will be processed (crushed, ground, concentrated) at on-site processing facilities.  The final products from the mill will be a concentrate product containing copper,palladium, platinum and gold and a by-product of non-mineralized rock called “process solids”. The concentrate will be transported off-site via road and rail to a smelter and refinery for subsequent metal extraction and separation.  The process solids resulting from the milling process, will be disposed of in the Process Solids Management Facility (PSMF).  Multiple options for process solids disposal have been assessed, which has resulted in two options for final consideration and environmental assessment.  The non-ore bearing mine rock produced, will be permanently stored in purposefully built Mine Rock Storage Areas (MRSAs) located west and east of the main pit.

At closure, or the end of the operational phase of the mine, the Project footprint will be reclaimed to permit future use as desired by the local communities and for traditional use by First Nations.

Stillwater Canada Inc. continues the Federal and Provincial environmental permitting and approvals process for the Project.  In December 2008, the Project was accepted into the Major Projects Management Office (MPMO) initiative.  A Project Description was submitted to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) in March 2010, which triggered the Federal Environmental Assessment process.  On October 7, 2010 the Project was referred to an independent Review Panel.  All Federal and Provincial approvals are expected to be received in 2013 for an estimated start of commercial production two years later.

Stillwater Canada Inc. is committed to construct and operate the mine in a safe and environmentally sound manner, in compliance with relevant Federal and Provincial laws.  We strive to be respectful of nature and considerate of our local stakeholders and First Nations.  The Project will bring value to the shareholders of the Corporation and will improve the social and economic well being of the nearby communities.