Editing Potash (section)

== Mining ==

=== Shaft mining and strip mining ===
All commercial potash deposits come originally from [[evaporite]] deposits and are often buried deep below the earth's surface. Potash ores are typically rich in potassium chloride (KCl), sodium chloride (NaCl) and other salts and clays, and are typically obtained by conventional shaft mining with the extracted ore ground into a powder.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alikhan |first=Irfan |title=Management of Agricultural Inputs |publisher=Agrotech Publishing Academy |year=2014 |isbn=9789383101474}}</ref> Most potash mines today are deep shaft mines as much as 4,400 feet (1,400 m) underground. Others are mined as strip mines, having been laid down in horizontal layers as [[sedimentary rock]]. In above-ground processing plants, the KCl is separated from the mixture to produce a high-analysis potassium fertilizer. Other potassium salts can be separated by various procedures, resulting in potassium sulfate and potassium-magnesium sulfate.

=== Dissolution mining and evaporation methods ===
Other methods include dissolution mining and evaporation methods from brines. In the evaporation method, hot water is injected into the potash, which is dissolved and then pumped to the surface where it is concentrated by solar induced evaporation. [[Amine]] reagents are then added to either the mined or evaporated solutions. The amine coats the KCl but not NaCl. Air bubbles cling to the amine + KCl and float it to the surface while the NaCl and clay sink to the bottom. The surface is skimmed for the amine + KCl, which is then dried and packaged for use as a K rich fertilizer—KCl dissolves readily in water and is available quickly for [[plant nutrition]].<ref>[http://www.ipni.net/ipniweb/portal.nsf/0/68907f5d1e5922f8062577ce006ad872/$FILE/K%20Fert%20Prod%20&%20Tech%2011%2016%2010.pdf Potassium Fertilizer Production and Technology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202150508/http://www.ipni.net/ipniweb/portal.nsf/0/68907f5d1e5922f8062577ce006ad872/%24FILE/K%20Fert%20Prod%20%26%20Tech%2011%2016%2010.pdf|date=2012-12-02}}. International Plant Nutrition Institute.</ref>

Recovery of potassium fertilizer salts from sea water has been studied in [[India]].<ref>[http://www.tifac.org.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=733&Itemid=205 Recovery of Potassium Fertiliser Salts from Sea Bittern] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610214622/http://www.tifac.org.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=733&Itemid=205|date=2015-06-10}}. Tifac.org.in. Retrieved on 2013-06-21.</ref> During extraction of salt from seawater by evaporation, potassium salts get concentrated in [[Bittern (salt)|bittern]], an effluent from the salt industry.