Potash Ponds — These electric blue moulds in the brown desert are potash fumes from ponds operated by Intrepid Potash, Inc., the largest producer of potassium chloride in the United States. These ponds are located along the course of the Colorado River, about 30 kilometres west of Moab (Utah, USA). These ponds have an area of 1.5 square kilometres and are lined with rubber to retain the salt.
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| Potash evaporation ponds |
Potash Ponds
Potash pond — Unlike other saltwater evaporation ponds, which get a natural reddish hue due to the presence of some algae, the rich, bright blue colour of these evaporator potash ponds in Moab is due to an artificially added colourant that aids in the absorption of sunlight and accelerates the evaporation process. After the water evaporates and only potassium and other salts remain, they will be collected and sent for recycling.
Utah Ponds — Most of the world's potassium reserves on Earth are from ancient oceans that once covered the land. After the water evaporates, potassium salts crystallise in large potash deposits. Over time, due to natural erosion of the earth's surface, precipitation, and cataclysms, potash deposits turn out to be underground and become potash ores. The basin of deposits in the Moab pools is estimated to contain 2 billion tonnes of potash fertilisers. They formed about 300 million years ago, and today they are at a depth of about 1200 metres below the surface.
Potash Utah — In the Moab, United States, mine, to extract potash from the ground, miners drill wells in the mine and pump hot water to dissolve the potassium that is about 1,200 metres below the surface. The resulting brine is pumped out of the wells to the surface and fed into the evaporation ponds.
Potash Mine
Potash Mine — To extract ore from the ground, workers drill wells, lower a pump into the potash mine, and pump hot water inside to dissolve potassium. The resulting solution is pumped out of the wells to the surface and poured into evaporation tanks. The sun evaporates water, leaving crystals of potassium and other salts. This evaporation process usually takes about 300 days.
Intrepid Potash, Inc. produces 700-1000 tonnes of potash fertilisers per day from this potash mine in Utah. The mine has been open since 1965, and Intrepid expects to continue extracting potash from it for at least 125 years before the potash ore dries up.
Potash PonAs, you know, potassium nitrate is widely used in the manufacture of pyrotechnic products, in addition to its use in fertilisers.
For example, potassium chlorate is used in mixtures for coloured fires.
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| Potash ponds in Utah |
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Potash Mine Pools
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| Potash ponds |
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| Potash mine |
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Potash Road, Moab |
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| Moab United States |
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| Potash evaporation ponds |
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| Potash Moab |
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| Potash Utah |
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| Potash mine pools |
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| Evaporation pond |
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| Potash mine, Utah |
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| Ponds USA |
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| Potash ponds in Moab |
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| Moab pools |
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The pool of potash, an amazing natural pool in the midst of the Utah desert, Quite frequently changes its colour at Moab, Utah, US. It is not a Pool but an artificial potassium mine which attracts visitors to the pond.
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