prev |
20080315Canyonlands_026.jpg |
next |
The small bodies of water you now view (see, I told ya to pay attention earlier) are solar evaporation ponds. They are owned and operated by Texasgulf Inc. for the solution mining of potash in the underlying area. Potash is a vital plant food used extensively in agriculture.
Texasgulf employs a unique mining technique. Water from the Colorado River is pumped into an underground mine. This water dissolves the ore, creating brine which is transported to the ponds. Following evaporation of the water, potash solids remain. The solids are then harvested by recycling a high brine concentrate to a nearby processing plant. The very dry climate and low precipitation in the area provide a high evaporation rate resulting in a potash production of approximately 260,000 tons per year.
A total of 23 separate evaporation ponds cover 400 acres in all. Each pond is lined with a polyvinyl chloride material. The liners serve as environmental protection against the possibility of brine leaking into the Colorado River. In no way does the mining operation physically pollute our environment.
I didn't see 23 ponds, but then again, I was more interested in watching them move a new arch, formed by dissolving the potash from under the rock, over to Arches National Park for public viewing. Took a pretty big truck, and blocked traffic on the highway for a while.