Mining Intelligence and News
Canada

Colonsay Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Potash
Mining Method
  • Room-and-pillar
  • Continuous
SnapshotAt Colonsay, production was temporarily halted in December 2022. And restarted in July 2023.

The Mosaic Company have the ability to reach an annual operating capacity of 2.1 million tonnes over time at Colonsay by increasing our staffing levels and investment in mine development activities.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
The Mosaic Company 100 % Indirect
Mosaic Potash Colonsay ULC (operator) 100 % Direct
Colonsay Potash Facility is 100% owned by Mosaic Potash Colonsay ULC, a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of Mosaic.

Deposit type

  • Evaporite

Summary:

The intracratonic Elk Point Basin is a major sedimentary geological feature in western Canada and the northwest U.S. It contains one of the world’s largest stratabound potash resources that represents almost 25% of the global potash production. The Prairie Evaporite hosts rich deposits of evaporite minerals including NaCl, KCl and locally, carnallite that occur in three potash deposits: the Esterhazy, Belle Plaine and Patience Lake members.

The Colonsay deposit includes two potash-bearing members within its local stratigraphy; the Patience Lake Member and the Belle Plaine Member. Mining at Colonsay is conducted within the upper portion of the Patience Lake Member.

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.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

The Colonsay mine was idled through the first half of 2023 and returned to production in July 2023.
CommodityUnits20232022202120192018201720162015
Potash Mt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe0.71.21.10.51.4
All production numbers are expressed as crystals.

Operational metrics

Metrics202320222021202020192018201720162015
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1.5 Mt of potash crystals1.5 Mt of potash crystals1.5 Mt of potash crystals1.5 Mt of potash crystals
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1.9 Mt3.4 Mt3.4 Mt1.6 Mt3.9 Mt

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 26, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 26, 2024

Aerial view:

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