Vernal mine phosphate ore is sedimentary rock from the Phosphoria Formation.

Simplot Phosphates continues to be the only active phosphate producer in Utah, mining the Meade Peak Member of the Permian Phosphoria Formation. The phosphate operation is located 12 miles north of Vernal in Uintah County

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Run of mine ore was crushed and then milled through a SAG mill and ball mill to minus 16 mesh. Milled ore was deslimed using cyclones and hydrosizers. Sands were conditioned with fatty acid, petroleum sulfonate, diesel fuel and frother prior to primary rougher and cleaner flotation. Primary flotation tailing was milled to 95 per cent minus 48 mesh, deslimed in cyclones, conditioned using reagents previously described, and then processed through rougher and cleaner scavenger flotation. Product of scavenger cleaner concentrate was upgraded by reverse flotation of dolomite. Flotation concentrates were combined and dewatered, pulp being milled to 99.5 per cent minus 65 mesh and then thickened to 65 per cent solids. Product was pumped from storage through a 10 inch, 94 mile pipeline to a conversion plant at Rock Springs, Wyoming. Mill tailing was stored behind an earthen dam, water from the settled tailing being reclaimed for mill use.

Simplot Phosphates, at their Vernal Mine Mil ........