The main ore body of the East Mine is located approximately 900 to 1,100 feet below the surface and is a mixed ore body with two minerals: sylvite (or potash) and langbeinite.

A conventional underground mine uses a mechanical method of extracting minerals from underground. Underground mining consists of multiple shafts or entry points and a network of tunnels to provide access to minerals and conveyance systems to transport materials to the surface. Underground mining machines are used to remove the ore and a series of pillars are left behind to provide the appropriate level of ground support to ensure safe access and mining.

Potash was mined from underground bedded deposits using continuous mining machines with shuttle car haulage from the face.

Ore extraction and conveyance to the surface is similar for both our East Mine and West Mine. The East mill produces 62 percent K2O white Muriate of Potash (MOP) from sylvite ore and Sulfate of Potash Magnesia products, Trio®, from the langbeinite ore. Potash is refined from the ore through hot brine dissolution of the potassium salts commonly called “hot leaching,” and then re-crystallization by rapidly cooling the brine. Natural gas boilers provide process steam.

The surface facility uses a flotation process to separate the sylvite from the salt. The refined sylvite is called Muriate of Potash or potash for short and is transported to the North Facility where it is compacted and processed into a granular form suitable for agricultural applications. The granular product is stored in warehouses until it is sold into the wholesale fertilizer market.