Underground leaching

Holes
are made from the
surface to the bottom
of the mineable bed
for injection of
potassium salt solvent – it may
be water, brine
or a special solution.
The solution is saturated
with minerals and
pumped up.

The solution
is directed to the factory
for the extraction of the desired
component. This method is used in the
U.S. and Canada in areas where the mi-
ning method is impossible due to mountain
and geological conditions. Underground
leaching from deep-lying beds is used to
produce potassium salt in Utah. The extraction
rate of the useful substance by leaching is low
at around just 17 to 20%, while the mining
method provides a rate of 30 to 80%.