Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Potash briefing to Arizona Senate


I'm finishing up my slides tonight for a briefing in the morning (Wed) to the Arizona State Senate Commerce and Energy Committee on potash in Arizona. Aggressive exploration by three companies in the Holbrook basin is confirming AZGS estimates of a large, shallow, accessible deposit that could hold as much as a quarter of the nation's potash resources.

Projections are that a single underground mine could produce more than twice the total current U.S. production of potash, provide 400-500 highly paid jobs in the Holbrook area, with an annual operating budget of $400-500 million per year, with a mine life of 50 years. [Right, potash mining in Carlsbad, NM. Credit, Intrepid Potash]

There is growing interest across the state in understanding more about the impacts of this potential new industry.

1 comment:

  1. Steve, you have done a great job of studying the area and educating people on the Holbrook Basin potential. Arizona Geological Survey, with ASLD, Arizona has done a fine job of promoting the potash potential in a clear, factual message. I absolutely think this will develop into a producing resource. Thanks, Pat Avery

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