Raw ore is fed into large crushers to make pieces more uniform in size.
Crushed ore is fed into agitation tanks (scrubbers) filled with a brine solution (process is called desliming).
The mixture is filtered removing clay particles leaving potash and sodium chloride.
This process separates potash from the sodium chloride crystals. A reagent is added to the mixture and causes air bubbles to form around the potash crystals. Crystals rise to the surface and are skimmed from solution by paddles.
To remove the excess moisture, the slurry of potash and brine is fed into centrifuges that pull the brine away from the potash (like the spin cycle of a washing machine). The damp potash is fed into fire dryers that removes the remaining moisture.
Potash is sized and separated through a series of oscillating screens. Undersized crystals are pressed together and crushed and screened again.
The compaction process is repeated until the granules have a common size.
Granules are sent to storage and shipped to customers.
