Potash ore

TABLE 19-10 Operating Data for Agglomerate Tabling of Phosphate and Potash Ore... 

Poole, C. Beeson, S. A. Separation of KC1 values from Canadian sylvinite and carnallite potash ores by selective flocculation. CIM Bull. 2000, 93, 81-85. 

Natural gas, naphtha, fuel oil, and sulfur have fairly definable specifications. In contrast, phosphate rock and coal are products that can vary significantly in composition and other characteristics. These variations can affect the processes used to upgrade the as-mined ores or the processes for manufacture of fertilizers from beneficiated products. Potash ores also vary greatly in composition depending on origin however, the end products of mining,... 

In the processing of mined potash ores, clay in the pulped ore causes higher consumption of collector reagents by adsorption of these, and reduced sylvite recoveries. The clay may be separated from the pulped ore prior to the addition of the amine collector by a desliming decantation, which is a gentle, preflotation collection of the clays in a clay-laden froth. The brine from the clay/brine froth is recycled to the flotation circuit after flocculation of the clay followed by removal of the floe in a thickener [22]. 

C. Poole and S.A. Beeson, Separation of KCl values from Canadian sylvinite and camallite potash ores by selective flocculation, CIM Bulletin, 93(1040) 81—85, May (2000). 

Today, potash ores are treated by three basic processes leaching-crystallization, flotation, and electrostatic treatment. Gravity separation is of minor importance because of the small density differences between the salt minerals (Schultz etal. 2002). 

The main environmental problem of the potash industry is the disposal of process waste. The annual total world production of potash ore is approximately 250 x lO tons, the processing of which necessitates that -200x10 tons of waste are deposited without damage to the environment. In the Canadian province of Saskatchewan alone, 300x10 tons of solid waste has been generated during the past thirty years, covering an area of 35 km with solid and liquid materials. 

Stirling, J. A. R., 1989. Image analysis techniques applied to potash ores. In Petruk, W. (ed.) Min-eralogical Association of Canada Short Course on Image Analysis Applied to Mineral and Earth Sciences 16 141-150. 

Uses Flotation agent for potash ores corrosion inhibitor germicide wetting agent softener emulsifier intermediate in textiles, water treatment, boiler water treatment, concrete, asphalt, agric. antistat in cosmetics filler dispersant in paper prod. pigment grinding aid/dispersant bitumen adhesion promoter ... 

Formula RNH2, R = tallow Properties Solid m.p. 34-35 C cationic Toxicology TSCA listed Uses Flotation agent for potash ores intermediate for cationic surfactants emulsifier, surfactant in cosmetics corrosion inhibitor synthesis intermediate pigment flushing hydrophobic agent in oils, textiles, leather, rubber, plastics, metal industries, water treatment... 

Although fertilizer production has decreased drastically in recent years, these markets, especially Eurasia, are rich in raw materials such as natural gas, potash ores, and phosphate rock. Therefore, they will continue to play an important role in supplying nitrogen and potash fertilizers in the global markets. Because Eastern Europe is not as rich in energy resources and raw materials, increased energy costs may reduce its comparative advantage in world fertilizer markets. 

Large, deeply buried potash deposits are mainly associated with marine e aporite sequences and less commonly with non-marine evaporites throughout the world. Potash deposits occur on every inhabited continent and have been identified in most geologic time periods from the Cambrian to the present. The most abundant potash mineral in commercial potash deposits is sydvite Sylvite and halite (NaCl) form the common potash ore called sylvinite. In most occurrences, fairly pure sylvinite... 

The second exploitable area, the Castean or Catalonia potash basin, is located 75 km northwest of Barcelona and covers an area of about 2,600 km. The Catalonia deposit contains 2 to 4 layers of potash ore. The lower sylvinite bed or A bed is typically 3.0-3-2 m thick and averages 18% K2O. Above the A bed is a 2.5-m halite layer, followed by 0.7-0,9 m of sylvinite called the B bed, which analyzes about 35% K2O. Above the B bed are two thin marl layers followed by 6-8 m of alternating carnallite-halite beds. 

Carlsbad deposit is stratigraphically and mineralogically complex and contains 11 potash beds separated by thick hafite and sporatic thin anhydrite or polyhalite layers. The potash ore bodies vary considerably in terms of thdr area, shape, and location, but they are fairly flat with only moderate undulations, faulting, and folding. The main ore minerals are sylvite and langbeinite. To the east of the commercial potash deposits, there is a massive polyhalite formation. The lowest potash mem-... 

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