sop mining sat pics and transport

I thought it would be useful to give folks a better idea of what RWD propose to do out at Lake Disappointment so I have outlined the mining process with pictures for a comparable operation (Compass Minerals Salt Lake USA) and included some satellite images of Lake disappointment

1. Brines from the north arm of the Great Salt Lake are brought by canal to the pre-evaporation pond, then pumped into the main pond system.


2. 64 to 2500-acre ponds are filled to a depth of four to ten inches and separation of minerals (fractional crystallization) occurs via solar evaporation.


3. Chemical engineers monitor ponds daily— it usually takes about 12 months for the first mineral, sodium chloride, or common salt to precipitate.


4. Brines are then pumped into the next series of ponds to await precipitation of potassium and magnesium compounds — usually another 12 months.


5. The remaining brine is then removed and made into ice-melting compounds or returned to the lake, leaving behind a bed of naturally produced sulfate of potash harvest material.


6. After core samples are taken to determine the depth and quality of the "crop," graders cut down to a pre-determined depth and arrange potash in wind rows for further draining.

7. Potash deposits are "harvested" and taken by trucks either to the stockpile to await further processing, or directly to feed plants.

8. Using a "water leach process," raw potash is turned into high grade sulfate of potash (SOP). . After processing by a fractional draft tube crystallizer, GSL Sulfate of Potash is in its final form and ready for shipment to market.

9. After processing by a fractional draft tube crystallizer, GSL Sulfate of Potash is in its final form and ready for shipment to market.

10. Lake Disappointment is an ephemeral salt lake in one of the most remote areas of Western Australia. An early explorer supposedly named the lake in 1897 after following a number of creeks that he thought would lead to a large lake; they did, but the lakes extremely salty water was not drinkable. There is plenty of salty water, here is a satellite picture of Lake Disappointment (water in blue)

11.Here is another Nasa Satellite Photo


12.Here is some iamgery off another satellite the lake covers approximately 370650 acres (150000 ha) and is fed by the Savory Creek (not discernible on this image) that feeds into the northwest side of the lake. Lake Disappointment lies at the lowest point in a large basin (the Little Sandy Desert bioregion) of exposed sandstone. Evaporation rates far exceed the meager rainfall amount—mean annual rainfall is 7.5 inches (190 mm). Sand dunes on the lake form islands rising 16-60 feet (5-18 meters) above the bed. Notice the eastern half of the lake is darker in color, indicating that the elevation of the land is probably somewhat higher with more vegetative cover than the highly reflective western side of the lake

13 Which brings us to the question of haulage. No roads lead to Lake Disappointment the Canning Stock Route below (Well 17) passes by Lake Disappointment but with average loads of say 90tons per truck you need to 2222 truck loads a year or say 8 trucks loads day 300 days per year (sounds doable). But you do need to build a 250km road to probably Newman before you can get it on rail. I would therefore question the Capex of $128M estimated by Shaw and the 18 month start up. If anyones got a better idea about how you get the SOP out of area please feel free to suggest a plan but the logistics look to be a major challenge. I dont suggest that its unbeatable challenge but its certainly a factor that deserves some consideration and debate.