Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, March 3 / Trend H.Hasanov /
Large-scale work aimed at developing Garlyk deposit in Lebap province in south-eastern Turkmenistan, one of the richest mining deposit of potassium salts, the Neutral Turkmenistan reported on Saturday.
In terms of reserves of potash ores three deposits, Garlyk, Karabil and Tyubegatan are of the greatest interest for the development. Total reserves of potash ores of these deposits are estimated at 2.8 billion tons.
At this stage in Koytendag etrap, 30 kilometers north of the Kelif railway station plant for the production of potash fertilizers in the amount of 1.4 million tons per year is being built.
State Concern Turkmenhimiya in early 2010 signed a contract with JSC Belgorkhimprom (Belarus), which provides for the construction and commissioning of the company in early 2015.
In the future, it will allow to fully meet the needs of the country's agriculture and annually export over a million tons of valuable potash.
The article notes that in the northeastern part of the Garlyk deposit Belarusian specialists have completed hydrogeological survey for studies and specification of the geological section and hydrological conditions of the shaft sinking, as well as the qualitative composition of the productive strata of potash salts.
According to geological studies, reserves of crude potash salts in this deposit will ensure the stable operation of the enterprise.
Enrichment of potash ore at the plant is provided for by the flotation method. Potassium chloride will be generated using this method.
In addition, it will be possible to get non-chloric fertilizers such as potassium sulphate and potassium nitrate (saltpeter Potash) from raw materials from Garlyk deposit.
Geological surveys carried out in due time by Kugitang exploration expedition showed that the productive strata of potassium salts which are suitable for industrial development, lie at depths from 200 to 1000 meters. Driving of salt mines will be carried out through drilling and blasting methods.
A real underground city will be on the place of mine. Annual mining and processing of more than seven million tons of ore will be required to ensure given volume of production. Opening out of productive strata of the deposit is planned to implement by two vertical shafts.