Overview
| Status | Care and Maintenance |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
- Continuous
- Room-and-pillar
|
| Processing |
- Dissolving & Crystallising
|
| Mine Life | 79 years (as of Jan 1, 2009) |
On January 28, 2020 - The mine was placed in care and maintenance mode, employing minimal staff and allowing for resumption of operations when needed to meet customers’ needs.
June 4, 2021 - The Mosaic Company is planning to resume production at the Colonsay potash mine. This restart will offset a portion of the production lost by the early closure of the K1 and K2 shafts at Esterhazy. By March of 2022, the company's annualized potash production could increase by 2 million tonnes from 2020 levels, as Esterhazy K3 ramps up to full capacity and Colonsay returns to service. |
Source:
p. 16, 158
| Company | Interest | Ownership |
|
The Mosaic Company
|
100 %
|
Indirect
|
|
Mosaic Potash Colonsay ULC
(operator)
|
100 %
|
Direct
|
Summary:
Extensive potash deposits are found in the southern half of the Province of Saskatchewan. The potash ore is contained in a predominantly rock salt formation known as the Prairie Evaporites. The Prairie Evaporites deposits are bounded by limestone formations and contain the potash beds. Three potash deposits of economic importance occur in Saskatchewan: the Esterhazy, Belle Plaine and Patience Lake members. The Patience Lake member is mined at Colonsay. The particular beds mined at Colonsay and Esterhazy have a mining height of 11 and 8 feet, respectively.
Mining Methods
- Continuous
- Room-and-pillar
Summary:
Colonsay utilizes shaft mining. Traditional potash shaft mining takes place underground at depths of over 1,000 meters where continuous mining machines cut out the ore face and load it onto conveyor belts. The ore is then crushed, moved to storage bins and hoisted to refineries above ground.
Colonsay is operated as a conventional underground mine that uses mining machines and room and pillar techniques to bring solid ore to the surface.
Processing
- Dissolving & Crystallising
Source:
Summary:
Colonsay potash mine produce MOP exclusively.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Potash
|
Head Grade, %
| ......  | 26.8 | 24.4 | 25.7 | 26.8 | 26.9 |
Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Potash
|
Mt
| ...... | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
All production numbers are expressed as crystals.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Annual production capacity
| ...... | 1.5 Mt of potash crystals | 1.5 Mt of potash crystals | 1.5 Mt of potash crystals | 1.5 Mt of potash crystals | |
|
Ore tonnes mined
| ...... | 1.9 Mt | 3.4 Mt | 3.4 Mt | 1.6 Mt | 3.9 Mt |
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Reserves at December 31, 2020:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
|
Proven & Probable
|
295 Mt
|
K2O
|
26.3 %
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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Aerial view:
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