Boulby Potash Mine, United Kingdom

In 1960s fertiliser demand growing UK reliant imported potash ICI decided reserves 40km its Cleveland facilities north-east England. 200ha mine site Boulby half-way Tees estuary Whitby.

SBM VSI5X Impact Crusher, VSI Impact Crusher, PE Jaw Crusher, JCE Jaw Crusher

design capacity 1.0Mt/y potassium chloride (KCl) product sufficient maintain 55% UK market share substantial export sales. Potash extraction requires co-production salt. Construction started 1969 delivered 1973. potash ship/road/rail terminal constructed Teesdock.

ICI formed Cleveland Potash Ltd (CPL) joint venture Anglo American subsequently sold its stake Anglo American. 2002 "non-core" business sold ICL Fertilizers division Israel Chemicals Ltd.

SBM VSI Impact Crusher, PE Jaw Crusher, JCE Jaw Crusher, Symons Cone Crusher

CPL employs 828 people integrated Iberpotash Spain regional subsidiaries into ICL Fertilizers Europe handles marketing distribution products. Dead Works recovers potash products Israel.

GEOLOGY RESERVES

Boulby potash occurs depths 1,200 1,500m seam ranging 0–20m averaging 7m thickness. Within permian evaporite sequence sylvinite comprises 35–45% sylvite (potash) 45–55% halite (salt) plus impurities. sedimentary strata evaporites include triassic Sherwood sandstone contains brine pressure.

SBM PE Jaw Crusher, JCE Jaw Crusher, Symons Cone Crusher, Hydraulic Cone Crusher

situation restricted exploration drilling and depth involved prevented underground exploration trial mining. Consequently planners aware stresses dealt not extent faulting presence pressurised gas shaly parts potash sufficient blow-outs extraction. However geology provides excellent conditions Institute Underground Sciences undertake 'dark-matter' experiments.

MINING

Sinking 5.5m-diameter 1,150m-deep shafts sandstone achieved freezing grouting shaft. Although basic concept roadway development salt access room-and-pillar potash panels sound determining efficient system proved difficult not 1984 CPL reduced costs sufficiently achieve profitability.

SBM JCE Jaw Crusher, Symons Cone Crusher, Hydraulic Cone Crusher, Spring Cone Crusher

mid-1990s output stabilised 16,000t/d – 2.8Mt/y production sections.

"The geology provides excellent conditions Institute Underground Sciences undertake 'dark-matter' experiments."

To cope greater stresses below 1,200m raise output 3Mt/y 2001 CPL converted its continuous miners remote-controlled operation (so safely used shaly sections without prior blasting).

The mine mine-wide digital micro-seismic monitoring system devised two-road stubs (rather four-road) stress-relieving room-and-pillar technique achieves per shift. Jeffrey Joy continuous miners discharge Joy electric shuttle cars feeder breakers conveyors hoisting shaft.

ORE PROCESSING

CPL's refinery separates KCl salt sylvinite recovers potash grades. Following impact rod milling de-sliming units feed underflow salt impurity removal flotation overflow classified treated filtration slime flotation. de-watered screened flotation standard fertiliser-grade potash converted granular grade compaction circuit.

SBM Symons Cone Crusher, Hydraulic Cone Crusher, Spring Cone Crusher, Jaw Crusher Mobile Crusher

The potash recovered filtration slime flotation directed crystallisers normally yield soluble potash product. Assisted EU funding CPL developed system pumping tailings / seawater slurry into worked-out areas 1km core operation. backfilling operation started 2003.

The fertiliser grades sold either application complex fertiliser manufacture soluble potash industrial applications salt primarily de-icing.

SBM Hydraulic Cone Crusher, Spring Cone Crusher, Jaw Crusher Mobile Crusher, Cone Crusher Mobile Crusher

PRODUCTION

Potash production rates related demand projections whilst salt output roughly determined development required achieve potash target. 1994 potash output varied 800,000t 1.03Mt/y salt production ranging 384,000t 662,000t. ICL indicated CPL maintained production 2005 1Mt/y potash 500,000t salt.

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