8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                   ----------

                         Date of Report: July 12, 2004
                        (Date of earliest event reported)

                            Stillwater Mining Company
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

           Delaware                      0-7704                 81-0480654
(State or Other Jurisdiction of  (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
        Incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                  536 East Pike Avenue, Columbus, Montana 59019
                  ---------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (406) 322-8700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Item 5. Other Events and Required FD Disclosure.

(c)   Exhibits.

99.1  Press release issued on July 12, 2004 by Stillwater Mining Company.


                                    SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                   STILLWATER MINING COMPANY

Date: July 12, 2004                By: /s/ John R. Stark
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       Name:  John R. Stark
                                       Title: Vice President, Secretary and
                                              General Counsel


                                    EXHIBITS

99.1     Press release issued on July 12, 2004 by Stillwater Mining Company.

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

       Stillwater Mining Union Employees Reject Tentative Labor Agreement


    COLUMBUS, Mont., July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STILLWATER MINING
COMPANY (NYSE: SWC) Stillwater Mining Company announced today that a tentative
labor agreement reached earlier this month with the Paper, Allied Industrial,
Chemical and Energy Workers International Local 8-0001 has been rejected by a
vote of the union membership.  The previous contract, which covers workers at
the Company's Stillwater Mine and Columbus, Montana processing facilities, was
extended to allow time for the vote to be taken and will expire at noon on
Monday, July 12.  The union has advised Stillwater management of its intention
to strike if no agreement is reached prior to the contract expiration.

    Commenting on the strike announcement, Stillwater's Chairman and CEO Frank
McAllister said, "The Company is surprised by the outcome of the union vote
since the union negotiating team had strongly recommended ratification to its
membership.  The Company is not looking for and did not negotiate any
takeaways from employees.  In fact, the three-year contract voted upon
includes annual 3% wage increases valued in the first year at about
$3 million."

    McAllister continued, "In anticipation of the strike, we felt it was
prudent to begin the cessation of operations during the Sunday, July 11th work
shifts to provide for a safe and orderly shutdown.  Employees scheduled and
reporting for work are to be paid through the end of the contract extension
period at noon today, Monday, July 12.  Benefits for our union employees at
Stillwater and Columbus will continue through the end of July."

    Lastly, McAllister concluded, "We are aware and concerned about the impact
of a strike on our employees, their families and the surrounding communities.
Consequently, the Company stands willing and ready to continue negotiations
towards resolving all issues, and we have encouraged our employees to be in
contact with the union for guidance."


    Stillwater Mining Company is the only U.S. producer of palladium and
platinum and is the largest primary producer of platinum group metals outside
of South Africa.  The Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol SWC.  Information on Stillwater Mining can be found at its Web
site:  www.stillwatermining.com.


    Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and, therefore, involve uncertainties or risks that could cause actual results
to differ materially. These statements may contain words such as "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates" or similar
expressions. These statements are not guarantees of the Company's future
performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important
factors that could cause our actual performance or achievements to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements.  Such statements include, but are not limited to, comments
regarding expansion plans, costs, grade, production and recovery rates,
permitting, financing needs, the terms of future credit facilities and capital
expenditures, increases in processing capacity, cost reduction measures,
safety, timing for engineering studies, and environmental permitting and
compliance, litigation and the palladium and platinum market.  Additional
information regarding factors which could cause results to differ materially
from management's expectations is found in the section entitled "Risk Factors"
above in the Company's 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The Company intends
that the forward-looking statements contained herein be subject to the above-
mentioned statutory safe harbors.  Investors are cautioned not to rely on
forward-looking statements.  The Company disclaims any obligation to update
forward-looking statements.



SOURCE  Stillwater Mining Company
    -0-                             07/12/2004
    /CONTACT:  John W. Pearson of Stillwater Mining, +1-406-322-8742/
    /Web site:  http://www.stillwatermining.com /
    (SWC)

CO:  Stillwater Mining Company
ST:  Montana
IN:  MNG
SU:  LBR