Natural Resources of Montana: Minerals, Energy, Timber, Water & Wildlife

Minerals & Metals

• Coal (vast reserves, Powder River Basin)
• Copper, Gold, Silver, Lead, Zinc (Butte, Stillwater complexes)
• Platinum, Palladium, Nickel, Manganese, Iron

Energy

• Hydroelectric (major dams: Fort Peck, Hungry Horse, Kerr)
• Wind (high plains potential, growing capacity)
• Solar, Geothermal, Biomass (emerging)
• Oil & Gas (Bakken fringe, traditional fields)

Timber

Western forests: Douglas fir, Western larch, Lodgepole pine, Ponderosa pine, Whitebark pine. Major lumber producer.

Water

Rivers: Missouri, Yellowstone, Clark Fork, Flathead.
Lakes/Reservoirs: Flathead Lake, Fort Peck Lake, Canyon Ferry.
Aquifers for irrigation and municipal supply.

Wildlife & Fish

Big Game: Elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, bison (managed herds).
Predators: Grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, mountain lion.
Upland Birds: Wild turkey, pheasant, grouse.
Waterfowl: Ducks, geese.
Fish: Trout (rainbow, brown, cutthroat), salmon, steelhead, bass, walleye, pike, muskie, catfish.

Montana’s resource economy drives mining, logging, agriculture, tourism, and energy sectors.