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Show fJicijor Potash Operation May :ui fromTestSiCliamberTold W. Aubrey Smith, Potash Specialist with Buttes Gas & Oil, and an expert in potash development since the mid 1 930's was the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Moab Chamber of Commerce. A large group of attentive people were on hand to listen to Mr. Smith talk about potash development in this area. Mr. Smith was introduced by Bob Norman of Buttes Gas & Oil, who has conducted intensive geologic studies on potash ore bodies lying some 5,000 feet below the surface. The proposed pro-posed site is located approximately approxi-mately 18 miles northwest of Moab, in what is known as the Ten Mile area. Mr. Smith gave a brief history of potash development in this country, and also emphasized the importance of potash as an important element ele-ment in the rapidly depleting food supply of the world. Potash, which is a compound made up of potassium carbonate, carbon-ate, is a major source of fertilizer for the agricultural industry. Potash, said Mr'. Smith, is a general term for all compounds containing potassium. potas-sium. It is potassium, he said, that enables corn to turn starch into protein. Before World War I, the United States imported most of its potash. However, the political climate immediately following the war made it imperative that the United States develop its own potash resources. As a result, some 13 plants were developed in various parts of the country, notably in New Mexico, and we were a bit more self-sufficient to meet our potash needs. Since that time, however, how-ever, with even new discoveries discover-ies and plants the U.S. has once again been relying on foreign imports to meet ever increasing quotas. Mr. Smith said that by the mid-1980's, according to the U.S." Bureau of Mines, we will be down to producing only about 2 million tons of potash. Roughly, that means we will be depending on 87 of our potash from foreign suppliers, and will only be producing 13 of our own needs. "Moab has an opportunity to turn the trend." said Mr. Smith, and to become a "major producer of potash" referring to the project currently cur-rently underw ay by Buttes Gas & Oil. According to Bob Norman, of Buttes, extensive surveys have been done on the ecological, environmental, and cultural impact the proposed site would have. Since the ore may lie as deep as 5,500 feet below the surface, a conventional conven-tional shaft mine would be impractical, and that the four test holes will be done by solution mining. Roughly that means water will be pumped into the hole to break the ore away from the bed. He pointed out that solution mining was not an exact science, but that Texasgulf, Inc. has had sonic-success sonic-success with it. Also involved in the plan, if the test holes prove fruitful, will be the construction of a test solar evaporation brine pond covering cover-ing some IhO acres on the proposed site. It seems, that if all the test holes prove satisfactory, and the permits arc granted by the BLM. the possibility of another ano-ther large potash plant in Grand County is very real indeed, in the years to come. Economically, it will mean .00 to MX) new jobs for the area. More importantly, is the factor of reducing foreign dependence depen-dence on this vital resource. More information, and local input, can be obtained by attending a public meeting w hich will be held at Star Hall, on Thursday. May 19 at 7:00 p.m. Anyone with special interest should attend. |