The Cabanasses mine in Súriawhere this Thursday three geologists died in a gallery 900 meters deep, is dedicated to the potash extraction. Owned by, ICL Iberia Súria & Sallentis the sole production company of this kind of Mineral salts in spain. Hence the israeli matrix ICL invested 100 million euros in partially renovating the facilities, works that lasted almost a decade and made it possible to reach a depth of 900 metres. But, What is potash and what is it used for?
Potash is a mineral that, as can be guessed from its name, contains potassium. Plus, he owns it water-soluble. Thanks to geology applied to the paleontologyit is known that it was used for bleach textilesdo glass y soap from before the year 500 a. of C. However, the mining work did not arrive until the 19th century, with the discovery of stassfurt potash mines, in Germany. There, the chemist, engineer and businessman Adolph Frank dedicated much of his work to the use of this mineral salt in the industry and specifically how artificial fertilizer.
A century of exploitation of potassium salts
The engineers Emily Viader y Rene Macary discovered in 1912 the Catalan potassium salt basin, located in the Bages region. The discovery was not trivial: it is one of the most important potash reserves in Europa Occidental. From then on, the first mining concessions were awarded and the potash mines of Súria and Sallent, and the Cardona salt mine.
Potash is marketed in two qualities of different granulometry (standard and granulated), depending on their purpose: to obtain complex fertilizers or for the agricultural fertilization direct, loose or mixed with other products. ICL Iberia Súria & Sallent, owner of Iberpotash, produces both types. In total, it extracts, treats and sells one million tons of potash per yearof which 80% exports worldwide.
Essential nutrient and fertilizer
Potassium is the third major plant nutrient and crops after nitrogen y the match. Therefore, it is not only used as a fertilizer and is a key element in agricultural fertilization. The reason is thator are there substitutes for potassium as a nutrient, whether for plants, animals and even humans. He manure and the green sand they are low-potassium sources that can be cost-effectively transported only short distances from crop fields.
Other uses: very versatile
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The most common compound and material extracted from potash are potassium chloride and potassium carbonate. On the one hand, potassium chloride is important in many industrialized economies, in addition to use as fertilizer. It is used in the process of aluminum recycling and of the melting snow and icefor galvanize metals and to soften the water. Also, it is among the fluids used for drilling oil wells and in the heat treatment of steel. It is also used in medicine as a treatment for hypokalemiaa disorder in the fluid and electrolyte balance of the body.
On the other hand, potassium carbonate is used to make food products and supplements for people and animals, cement and fire extinguishers, as well as photographic and textile chemicals. It is also present in brewing, pharmaceutical preparations and as a catalyst for the manufacture of synthetic rubber, among other purposes.
