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kipp440

11/15/09 5:47 PM

#16985 RE: kipp440 #16983

Magnesium problem in potash solution mining?

http://www.agapito.com/An%20Overview%20of%20the%20Geology%20of%20Solution%20Mining%20of%20Potash%20in%20Saskatchewan.pdf

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).

Max Power

11/15/09 6:07 PM

#16988 RE: kipp440 #16983

way to completely avoid responding to the fact that they will likely use evaporation mining which is the cheapest all all methods