Absaloka Mine

Absaloka Mine is a surface operation in Hardin, Montana, owned by Westmoreland Coal Company. The expansion of the mine, which is on the Crow Indian Reservation, contains an enormous bone bed, which includes hundreds of projectile points that may have been used in a systematic killing of animals that took place more than 2,000 years ago.

An an archaeological contractor spent two years working the site on the west side of the Little Wolf Mountains in the Sarpy Creek drainage area. The excavation has caused controversy within the Crow tribe, although the permitting of the mine had already been approved.

Mine Data

 * Owner: Westmoreland Resources Inc.
 * Parent company: Westmoreland Coal Company
 * Location: Sarpy Rd, near Hardin, Montana
 * GPS coordinates: 45.804333,-107.045116
 * Production: 7,704,556 short tons
 * Type of coal: Sub-Bituminous
 * Mine type: Surface
 * Equipment: 1 dragline
 * Number of employees: 150

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