Intrepid Potash - Wendover, Utah

Wendover, Utah is located in the west desert of Utah and is an area rich in history and beauty.  From its significance for the transcontinental railroad to its World War II days as an airbase to the Bonneville Salt Flats, thousands of visitors, commercial filmmakers, and racers make Wendover a world famous destination.  The Salt Flats and the Great Salt Lake are remnants of ancient Lake Bonneville, which was the size of Lake Michigan.  Minerals such as potassium, sodium and magnesium were deposited in the west desert at the bottom of the old lakebed. 

The Wendover potash mine is located about 120 miles west of Salt Lake City and has been actively used for potash production for over 65 years.  Potash production from natural occurring brines at the Wendover facility dates back to World War I.  During the period from 1920 to 1936, a number of unsuccessful attempts were made to commercially produce potash.  By 1939, a successful commercial potash operation was achieved and continues today.

Brine from the shallow aquifer is collected in 100 lineal miles of open ditches throughout the 88,000 acres of land.  In addition to the brine that is collected in the shallow aquifer, there is a deep aquifer 1,000 feet below ground.  A brine well has been installed into this deep aquifer to provide supplemental brine into the system, which serves as a source of additional production.  The brine that is collected in the ditch system is pumped into an 8,000 acre solar evaporation pond to evaporate water and precipitate undesirable salts.  Over 5 billion gallons of brine are pumped into the solar pond each year.  As the brine becomes saturated with potash, it is transferred through a series of smaller evaporation ponds into harvest ponds.  When the ripened brine finally reaches the harvest ponds, the ore (a combination of salt and potash) is precipitated out of solution on the pond floor.  The remaining brine in the harvest ponds is removed and the ore is harvested and transported by self-loading scrapers to the mill for processing.  In the mill, the potash is separated from the salt by flotation.  The material is then dried, compacted and screened into premium grades of white potash.  The ore from the harvest ponds can be sent directly to the dryer to be dried and screened into a metal recovery salt (MRS) which is a combination of potash and salt.  The final products are conveyed and stored in bulk storage warehouses.  From the warehouses, potash and MRS can be loaded directly into railcars or trucks for shipment.

The brine that is removed from the harvest ponds is rich in magnesium chloride and is transferred into additional evaporation ponds to concentrate further.  After reaching 28-30% magnesium chloride in the brine, it is transferred into storage ditches and lined ponds.  From storage, the brine is loaded into trucks or railcars for shipment. 

Another major use of the west desert is racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats.  The Salt Flats potential for racing was first recognized in the late 1800s and racers have been setting speed records ever since.  Since the first speed record in 1914, hundreds of records have been set and broken in a variety of automotive and motorcycle classes including the 300, 400, 500, and 600 mile per hour land speed barriers.  The main events for the year are Speed Week in August and World of Speed in September.

In a cooperative effort over concerns for the Salt Flats, the Wendover facility pumps salt brine onto the Salt Flats to help protect the future of this unique and historic natural feature.  The initial cost for the salt laydown project was over one million dollars, which consists of pumps, canals and ponds.  The project consists of a series of canals and old salt ponds through which relatively salt-free water is pumped to dissolve the old salt.  The resulting salt brine is then pumped onto the Salt Flats.  The Wendover plant works with the BLM to monitor the salt laydown project throughout the winter months of pumping to ensure project requirements are met.  Since the project began in 1997, over 7 million tons of salt have been pumped onto the Salt Flats.

The Wendover facility has been operating continually longer than any potash mine in the United States. It's history of safe and efficient production has prepared it for many more years of continued operation.

For more information on Wendover, please visit the following websites:

Wendover Chamber of Commerce and Tourism 
City-Data.com -- Wendover, UT

The Utah Salt Flats Racing Association

Supporter of:
SAVE THE SALT
"Preserving the Bonneville Salt Flats and promote the use of this historic place for motor sports for future generations."