Underground Disposal of Process Waste in a Potash Mine – System Development and Installation

Keywords: Potash mining, Underground disposal, Backfill system, Waste management, Waste slurry.

Cleveland Potash Limited operates one of Europe’s largest potash mines at Boulby on the north-east coast of England. Waste produced as a by-product of ore processing has been disposed of by consented discharge into the North Sea. In recent years however, Cleveland Potash has been conducting a research and development project, funded in part by the EU Life Environment programme, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its processing operation by identifying an alternative waste strategy. This paper briefly describes some of the test work undertaken and how the project progressed.

M. J. Wilkins ACSM, B.Eng, C.Eng, MIMMM., M. J. Fehrsen P.Eng, B.Sc (Mech) Eng, GCC (Mines & Works) and M. E. Dodds-Smith PhD, B.Sc, C.Biol., Cleveland Potash Ltd, Boulby Mine, Saltburn, Cleveland, UK.

26 Pages, 7 plates, 8 Figures, 5 References.