http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/17754 Potash, or potassium chloride (KCl), used predominantly for fertilizer, has been mined near the town of Esterhazy (pop. 2500) in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan since the beginning of the 1960s. The local mine, comprising two shafts and processing plants, K1 and K2, is the largest in the world, and the current owner, Mosaic Co., is the second-largest producer of potash in the world. As late as 2006, potash was an obscure commodity, and Mosaic was in the red – since that time, the price of potash has increased fivefold, and seems likely to stay there, due to the increased worldwide demand for food and biological raw materials, and thus fertilizers of all types The potash seam mined at K1 and K2 is located one kilometre underground, where during the decades 4700 kilometres of tunnels have been bored, including one interconnecting K1 and K2, which are about 10 km apart. The mined potash is transported on a conveyor belt to a "ore skip" and hoisted to a processing plant on the surface. After processing, the potash is transported to market via rail, and the tailings (waste), composed of clay, salt and brine, are stored in ponds and piles. Canada is the world's largest producer of potash, and Saskatchewan is Canada's largest producer of potash, producing 90% of Canada's total output (8 million tonnes), and about one-quarter of the world's supply. About 95% of potash produced in the world is used for fertilizer, with 5% used in commercial and industrial products such as soap. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/48028/Ibra_FB_profile_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756983/potash_080907_004_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada A view of mine K1, whose construction began at the end of the 1950s, and commenced production in 1962. A second mine, K2, completed in 1967, is located 10 km away, and both mines are connected by an underground tunnel. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756983'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756983 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:54:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756983 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756983/potash_080907_004_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada A view of mine K1, whose construction began at the end of the 1950s, and commenced production in 1962. A second mine, K2, completed in 1967, is located 10 km away, and both mines are connected by an underground tunnel. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756983'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756986/potash_080907_025_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. A mining machine. A rotary cutting head scrapes away the potash, which is then transported on a conveyor belt through kilometres of tunnels to the main shaft, and subsequently hoisted to the surface in a large-capacity box named an "ore skip". photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756986'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756986 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:54:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756986 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756986/potash_080907_025_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. A mining machine. A rotary cutting head scrapes away the potash, which is then transported on a conveyor belt through kilometres of tunnels to the main shaft, and subsequently hoisted to the surface in a large-capacity box named an "ore skip". photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756986'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756989/potash_080907_228_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. Underground, one kilometre beneath the surface. During approximately 45 years of mining activity, around 4700 km of tunnels have been bored. Specially adapted off-road vehicles are used to move around in the tunnels. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756989'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756989 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:55:00 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756989 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756989/potash_080907_228_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. Underground, one kilometre beneath the surface. During approximately 45 years of mining activity, around 4700 km of tunnels have been bored. Specially adapted off-road vehicles are used to move around in the tunnels. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756989'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756992/potash_080910_020_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. A pile of tailings (waste) left over after the potash is processed, composed of clay, salt and brine. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756992'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756992 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:55:14 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756992 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756992/potash_080910_020_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. A pile of tailings (waste) left over after the potash is processed, composed of clay, salt and brine. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756992'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756995/potash_080910_046_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. The processing plant on the surface. Here the raw potash is cleansed of most impurities and unwanted materials. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756995'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756995 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:55:34 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756995 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756995/potash_080910_046_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. The processing plant on the surface. Here the raw potash is cleansed of most impurities and unwanted materials. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756995'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756998/potash_080910_081_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. Processed potash, which is then further processed into powder that sold to chemical and manufacturing industries, while coarser granules are sold as fertilizer. In the ground, potash ore is a mixture of red and white crystals with traces of clay and other impurities. After processing, it is white in its pure form but appears pink due to some impurities. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756998'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756998 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:57:02 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756998 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/756998/potash_080910_081_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. Processed potash, which is then further processed into powder that sold to chemical and manufacturing industries, while coarser granules are sold as fertilizer. In the ground, potash ore is a mixture of red and white crystals with traces of clay and other impurities. After processing, it is white in its pure form but appears pink due to some impurities. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/756998'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/757001/potash_080910_147_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada Once cleaned and processed, potash is loaded into rail cars and shipped off to market, or stored until needed (the conical structures in the backround). photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757001'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757001 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:57:20 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757001 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/757001/potash_080910_147_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada Once cleaned and processed, potash is loaded into rail cars and shipped off to market, or stored until needed (the conical structures in the backround). photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757001'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/757004/potash_080910_156_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada Once cleaned and processed, potash is loaded into rail cars and shipped off to market. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757004'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757004 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:57:34 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757004 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/757004/potash_080910_156_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada Once cleaned and processed, potash is loaded into rail cars and shipped off to market. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757004'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/757007/sask_080908_020_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. A view of mine K1, whose construction began at the end of the 1950s, and commenced production in 1962. A second mine, K2, completed in 1967, is located 10 km away, and both mines are connected by an underground tunnel. The "smoke" emanating from the chimney is composed primarily of steam. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757007'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757007 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:57:56 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757007 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/757007/sask_080908_020_small.jpg' /><br />Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada. A view of mine K1, whose construction began at the end of the 1950s, and commenced production in 1962. A second mine, K2, completed in 1967, is located 10 km away, and both mines are connected by an underground tunnel. The "smoke" emanating from the chimney is composed primarily of steam. photo: Martin Mraz<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/757007'>view full-size image</a> Martin Mraz