Crushing, drying, open-pit mining and even the use of explosives are some of the processes used by our company to process potash and phosphate.
Potash: two stages in the transformation process
The potash production process involves two stages, one at the mine and the other at the plant. Sylvinite, the ore used to produce potash, can be extracted through either underground mining or solution mining.
When it reaches the plant, the sylvinite passes through crushing, concentration and drying processes, at the end of which 15% emerges as standard-grade potassium chloride. The remaining 85% is conveyed to a compaction plant, where it is turned into granular potassium chloride. The products are then taken to a storage hangar for subsequent dispatch.
Phosphate: open-pit mining
The choice of transformation process used to obtain phosphate rock concentrate depends mainly on the type of rock. To extract phosphate from sedimentary rock, as found at Bayóvar mine, Peru, open-pit mining is employed, using tractors, excavators and trucks. The main stages involved in processing the rock are washing, classification by size, removal of mud and drying.
To obtain phosphate from igneous rock, as found at Evate mine, Mozambique, open-pit mining is also used, but with the additional use of explosives to break up the rock. The main stages at the plant are crushing, grinding, classification by size, magnetic separation, flotation and drying. Once more, the end product sold to customers is phosphate rock concentrate.