Sylvinite Explained

Sylvinite is a sedimentary rock made of a mechanical mixture of the minerals sylvite (KCl, or potassium chloride) and halite (NaCl, or sodium chloride).[1] [2] Sylvinite is the most important source for the production of potash in North America, Russia and the UK.[3] Most Canadian operations mine sylvinite with proportions of approximately 31% KCl and 66% NaCl with the balance being insoluble clays, anhydrite and in some locations carnallite. Other deposits of sylvinite are located in Belarus, Brazil, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Slovakia and Spain.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Carnallite-Sylvite Relationships in the Middle Devonian Prairie Evaporite Formation, Saskatchewan . Wardlaw, Norman C. . Geological Society of America Bulletin . 1968 . 79 . 10 . 1273–1294 . 10.1130/0016-7606(1968)79[1273:CRITMD]2.0.CO;2. 1968GSAB...79.1273W .
  2. Weiss N.L., SME Mineral Processing Handbook 1985, Page 22-2
  3. Web site: Potash . . Mineral Planning Factsheet . 2011 . 8 February 2017.
  4. Web site: Sylvinite . mindat.org . 29 December 2016 . 8 February 2017.