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Show Israili Visitors Described Dead Sea Potash IVorfcs At the regular Monday luncheon, May 9, 1977, the Rotary Club of Moab had a second Israeli visitation totally unrelated to the study team that had been here the previous week. A Mr. Rosenvelt and Abraham Abra-ham Sedan representing the Israeli Chemical and Dead Sea Works were here to observe the operations for Potash recovery at Texas Gulf. The Dead Sea is about 1200 feet below sea level. It is also about 1200 feet deep and is surrounded by hills of 1200 feet elevation. There is no water flowing into the Dead Sea. Wastes from the operation are returned return-ed to the Sea. Its level is dropping about two feet per year. Rainfall in the area is less than 2" per year. The operation was originated originat-ed by a man from Siberia who immigrated to Israel. At one time potash harvesting was being done at both the north and south ends of the Sea. Following the war that started in 1968 the north plant was taken over and demolished by the Jordanians. Israel is still operating the south plant as a government operation. Jordan is preparing to renew the operation in the north. The brine contains about 1 potash which is recovered by evaporation and some flotation in . similar to that used b, gulf. A twenty rnile encloses the first eva2"' pond of about 36 squarj A second evaporation about 12 square miles b " The evaporation rate Us--' to here. From each are able to harves,"? totaling 600 tons. Exporting of potash t east coast of the U.S.. and Japan is done bv J delivery to the Red Sea' Mediterranean. The s-operation s-operation employs l&x . sons who live within arf of 50 miles of their maintaining a 24 hourpe.. work schedule. Also recovered is y tons per year of e!eE-. bromine, compounds of t-are t-are made in a chemical Bathsheba. Since theret-life theret-life in the Dead Sea fer? no environmental probie-is. probie-is. however, quite a spa. |
