In this paper, the term “sylvinite” is used to describe the mixture of sylvite (KCl) and halite (NaCl) that is the source of the “potash” sylvinite may also contain clay and anhydrite and dolomite crystals that are collectively identified in the assay reports as “water insolubles.” Other impurities include carnallite (KCl.MgCl3.6H2O) and kieserite (MgSO4.H2O). The presence of magnesium is unfavourable and concentrations over 0.25% magnesium can impact plant performance and require special non-standard processing. In the historical record, assays for magnesium (Mg) and/or carnallite are listed; however, the “carnallite” assay value is a calculated value based on the equivalent magnesium chloride (MgCl2) content. The equivalent MgCl2 content is 3.91 times the Mg content. The equivalent mineral carnallite content is 11.42 times the magnesium content or 2.92 times the MgCl2 content. Throughout this paper carnallite content is reported as equivalent magnesium chloride (MgCl2).
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