Follow-Up on Potash

Sometime ago I posted a note about Dakota Salts, LLC, being granted a permit to mine potash in North Dakota. The permit was granted for a test well near the town of Lignite; the permit was issued back in August, 2010.

Dakota Salts, LLC, will begin exploratory work during the first week of November, and will take about two months, as reported in the Dickinson Press.

Dakota Salts, LLC, is a subsidiary of London-based Sirius Exploration which also has mining interests in China and Australia.

Updates

Update, October 22, 2010: More on how they do it and who is drilling for potash -- from the Minot Daily News --

"They plan to drill horizontal wells into the potash formation, use waste oil-field water, dissolve the potash, bring it to the surface, take it out of the water, put it in rail cars and ship it to the West Coast,"  according to Lynn Helms, director, state Department of Mineral Resources.

"The company that is actively leasing in Burke and Renville counties is funded by Chinese money through a London corporation. Potash is largely used to grow rice so it's Asia that is extremely hungry for potash," he said.

 Comment: what's not to like? They use horizontal technology developed by the oil industry; they use waste water from oil fields; they use the railroad which has already expanded in North Dakota due to oil business; and it's funded by the Chinese; working through an English-speaking company.