Potash and Borate Mine Planning AAI was contracted by Satimola, Ltd. (Satimola) to conduct a Preliminary Assessment for commercial mining of their potash deposit located in Kazakhstan. In 2006, AAI completed a review of mining options for a borate deposit on the same property. The potash deposits are beneath a dissolution layer and the borate [...]
Solution Mining
Preliminary Evaluation, Solution Mining Potash Agapito Associates, Inc. (AAI) was commissioned to prepare a preliminary evaluation of the potential for solution mining an offshore occurrence of deep, thick, high-grade potash consisting of a mixture of sylvinite and carnallite with associated langbeinite and polyhalite for a prospect in northern Africa. The Scope of Work consisted of [...]
Solution Mining of Nahcolite—Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA AAI personnel have provided technical support during the development of this pioneer solution mining project using cavity development from long horizontal boreholes. Specifically, AAI provided field and technical support in a pilot drilling program to characterize rock structure and hydrologic data. Rock structural data generated from drill [...]
Solution Mining of Halite The stability and subsidence potential of solution-mined cavity clusters in a well-developed field in the Hutchinson salt were evaluated by AAI to provide a basis for modifications of existing state permit requirements. The mining method employed a cluster of four solution cavities overlying shale, without damage to the USDW. Initially, a [...]
Southern Electric International (SEI) AAI was retained by SEI to assess the subsidence potential of the Central Avenue Property in Wyandotte, Michigan, which is underlain by extensive solution-mined salt cavities. AAI conducted an on-site inspection looking for any physical evidence of significant subsidence. In addition, AAI researched and reviewed literature and records relating to salt [...]
Order of Magnitude Study Rio Tinto Industrial Minerals (Rio Tinto) commissioned Agapito Associates, Inc. (AAI), to conduct the Order of Magnitude (OoM) study for solution mining within Rio Tinto’s exploration Permit Areas in Saskatchewan located to the East of Regina. The study included: Establish design criteria for cavern design Evaluate the potential impacts of geological [...]
Solution Mining of Nahcolite Natural Soda took over operations at White River Nahcolite in 2003. AAI has continued to support the operations in permitting, ground control, cavern development, and subsidence monitoring. To monitor potential caving above the solution mine caverns, AAI has installed TDR cables and monitored the response as solution mining has progressed.
Solution Mining of Nahcolite NaTec/White River Nahcolite (WRN) was the first solution mine developed to recover soluble minerals from thin horizontal beds using long horizontal wells. AAI personnel provided field and technical support in a pilot drilling program to characterize rock structure and hydrologic data, and have since supported WRN with assistance in drilling production [...]
Intrepid Mining LLC AAI is assisting Intrepid in developing a mine plan and permits for solution mining of depleted conventionally mined potash deposits in New Mexico. Tasks include conceptual planning, mine plan development, permit applications to the U. S. Bureau of Land Management and State agencies, costing and project management.
Solution Mining of Trona Eti Soda, Inc. is developing the Beypazari trona deposits in Turkey. AAI has been involved since 1999 in various projects. Initially AAI reviewed plans for underground mining the southern portion of the deposit. This involved review of geologic, geotechnical, and geo-hydrology to assess reserves; mine productivity; ventilation; and capital and operation [...]
Permitting Support for EPA Class I and II Underground Injection Wells AAI represented Copper Eagle Gas Storage (CEGS) in their pursuit of EPA underground injection control (UIC) permits. The proposed gas storage project involved solution mining salt to provide caverns for natural gas storage. The brine generated by solution mining the salt was proposed to [...]
American Soda, L.L.P. Agapito Associates, Inc. has been actively involved with the American Soda Project from 1997 through 2003. Major projects include: Stability assessment of pilot test cavern for permit application Design of subsurface solution mining plan Design of solution well completion Support in permit application to BLM, EPA, and affected counties Core drilling (7 [...]
Order of Magnitude Studies and Geotechnical Characterization Order of Magnitude studies for conventional room-and-pillar mining, longwall mining, and solution mining of a potential soda ash mine at Kazan, Turkey, were completed by AAI. The solution mining option was aggressively pursued by Rio Tinto and AAI was responsible for design of deep horizontal caverns, resource definition, [...]
(now owned by K+S) Feasibility Study Solution Mining AAI recently completed a Feasibility Study in conjunction with SNC Lavalin and Potash One for solution mining the Legacy project located to the south of the KP 289 permit area and where the recent exploration drilling and 3D seismic has confirmed the Measured and Indicated Resource. AAI [...]
Intrepid Potash LLC In 2008, 2009, and 2010, Agapito Associates, Inc. prepared a United States Security Exchange Commission compliant reserve estimate for all five potash operations for Intrepid Potash. This included two underground dry mines located near Carlsbad, New Mexico, an evaporative pond operation near Wendover, Utah, a flooded mine operation near Moab, Utah, and [...]
Intrepid purchased the Moab, Utah, potash solution mining operation formerly owned by PCS. Solution mining of existing room-and-pillar workings was initiated in 1970. AAI participated in the technical evaluation of resource recovery utilizing long, horizontal solution caverns. Engineering contributions include estimation of cavern heat loss, evaluation of hydraulic fracture gradients surrounding deep caverns, assessment of [...]
