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Show Target Production Expected in Aug. At Cane Creek Potash Complex The month of August should sec target production levels reached at the Cane Creek potash operation of Texas Gulf, Inc., Robert L. Curfmun, general manager, told members of the Moab Rotary Club Monday. Modifications to the slurry transportation system between be-tween solar evaporation ponds and the mill will have been completed when crews start back to work on Juiy 25, following a vacation shutdown, shut-down, and tha" factor should place the operation in a position to lut expected normal nor-mal production rates. Mr .Curfman stated that troubles in transporting the slurry material from the pond area to the mill had been the most serious encountered en-countered during the period from March 1, when the facility fac-ility was started up again after nearly a two-year shutdown wnilc Ihe project was converted from conventional conven-tional mining to solution mining. "All other aspects of the operation seem to be working pretty much as we expected," he stated. One of the major difficulties difficult-ies in converting the project, he slated, was that no one had any experience anywhere in the country in this type of work. "We have been pretty much feeling our way in many facets of the opera-lion," opera-lion," he stated, indicating the program to give even higher efficiency in the fu. lure might be made over a period of four to five years. Mr. Curfinan slated that evaporation rates at the fac-iliy fac-iliy are running close to expectations. ex-pectations. Wa heve basically basic-ally a seven month evaporation evapora-tion period, he said, continuing contin-uing that enough product can be mined with huge scrapers during that period of the year to sustain mill production produc-tion on a year-around basis. bas-is. "We are convinced at this time that the operation is competitive with any in this country, and that we have a high-quality product," he said. The general manager, who came up through the ranks at Cane Creek,, stated that it appeared now that em-pleyment em-pleyment would level eff somewhere AO and 100 people. peo-ple. "That is just about the level we are working under now," he said. Mr. Curfman applauded the efforts of TGS personna. during dur-ing the conversion from conventional con-ventional mining to solution mining. The work was completely com-pletely foreign to miy of them, he said, but they undertook un-dertook thJr new duties in a very commendable manner. man-ner. " v-at'y " he raid ' ii v e "ad it te do over again there would be some things we would do differently." tie referred specifically to pumping pump-ing equipment used on the slurry line and the materials used in that line. The line is currently being replaced, but the pumps will be made to function in this process even ev-en though another type' might have worked better," he indicated. in-dicated. . - ... |