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Intrepid Potash

(Redirected from Moab potash mine)

Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE: IPI), based in Denver, Colorado, is a fertilizer manufacturer. The company is the largest producer of potassium chloride, also known as muriate of potash, in the United States.[1] It owns three mines, all in the Western U.S., near the cities of Carlsbad, New Mexico, Moab, Utah, and Wendover, Utah.[2]

Intrepid Potash
Company typePublic company
NYSE: IPI
Russell 2000 Component
Founded2000; 24 years ago (2000)
Headquarters
Denver, Colorado
Key people
Robert P. Jornayvaz III, CEO
Websiteintrepidpotash.com
Potash evaporation ponds at the Intrepid mine near Moab, Utah, 2012. Colorado River is at right of frame.

Mines

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Carlsbad

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There are three sites approximately 30 miles (48 km) East of Carlsbad, New Mexico. The East facility produces sylvite and langbeinite potash, and is capable of fully processing its ore to the storage or shipment stage. The West facility (currently shut down) produced mainly traditional potash, which is shipped by truck to be processed at the North facility for final storage or shipping.

Moab

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Intrepid Potash evaporation pond, Moab, 2014. The ponds appear blue due to the presence of copper sulfate, added to the water to speed up evaporation and prevent bacterial and algal growth.

The Moab or Kane Creek potash mine (38°31′25″N 109°39′15″W / 38.52361°N 109.65417°W / 38.52361; -109.65417) is located along the right (northwest) bank of the Colorado River, about 20 miles (30 km) west of Moab, Utah,[3] at the south end of State Route 279 and the Union Pacific Railroad. The location is known as Potash on U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps, and is east of Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park.[4] According to USGS reports, the Paradox Basin contains up to 2.0 billion tons (1.8 billion metric tonnes) of potash, with the primary mine being the one at Kane Creek.[5]

The plant was built by the Texas Gulf Sulphur Company in the early 1960s,[6] opening in 1963 as a conventional underground mine.[7] Later that year, an explosion trapped 25 miners,[8] of whom only seven were able to survive, by building a barricade to trap fresh air.[9][10] In 1970, operations were changed to a system that combines solution mining and solar evaporation. River water is pumped into the mine and dissolves the potash, after which the brine solution is pumped to evaporation ponds.[3] Intrepid bought the mine in 2000[11] from the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan,[12] which had bought Texas Gulf in 1995.[13]

Wendover

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The Wendover potash mine is located about 120 miles west of Salt Lake City, Utah, and has been actively used for potash production since 1917. Potash production from natural occurring brines at the Wendover facility dates back to World War I. During the period from 1920 to 1936, a number of unsuccessful attempts were made to commercially produce potash. By 1939, a successful commercial potash operation was achieved and is still in production.[14]

Lobbying

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In 2015, a law firm associated with former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman started lobbying the U.S. State Department on behalf of Intrepid Potash to increase sanctions against Belarus.[15] In 2021, the United States sanctioned Belarusian potash firms, raising potash prices worldwide.[15][16][17]

References

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  1. ^ "Intrepid Potash Q1 profit surges on strong potash pricing, demand; issues FY08 production outlook". RTT News. 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  2. ^ "Intrepid Potash: Mine Site Locations". Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  3. ^ a b Intrepid Potash: Moab, Utah, accessed June 2008
  4. ^ Google Maps street maps and USGS topographic maps, accessed June 2008 via ACME Mapper
  5. ^ "Utah Uranium Corp. Proposes Name Change Reflecting New Opportunities". CNN Marketwire. 2008-06-25.[permanent dead link‍] (press release from Utah Uranium Corporation)
  6. ^ "Texas Gulf Sulphur Plans Big Utah Potash Project". New York Times. 1960-09-27. p. 49. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  7. ^ "Potash Mine to Open in Utah". Los Angeles Times. 1963-04-28. p. H7.
  8. ^ "Mine Blast Traps 25 at 2,700 Feet". New York Times. 1963-08-28. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Start of a Legend?". Time Magazine. 1963-09-06. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  10. ^ Stiles, Jim (2018-06-04). "The Disaster at Cane Creek: An Excerpt…by Kymberly Mele". Canyon Country Zephyr. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  11. ^ Montoya, Jason P. (2003-12-02). "Mine gets top safety award". Carlsbad Current-Argus. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28.
  12. ^ "State of the State". Salt Lake Tribune. 2000-03-01. p. D3.
  13. ^ Hudgins, Merle R. (1996-02-01). "Texasgulf". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  14. ^ "Intrepid Potash Wendover, Utah". Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  15. ^ a b Stein, Jeff; Cocco, Federica; Whoriskey, Peter (October 24, 2024). "A New Washington Influence Industry is Making Millions From Sanctions". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  16. ^ https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id=32746
  17. ^ "Treasury Holds the Belarusian Regime to Account on Anniversary of Fraudulent Election". United States Department of the Treasury. August 9, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
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