Whitby, Scarborough and Boulby

[Bryan]

At a talk on the existing Boulby mine it was stated that they mine Potash 5-6 days a week and Rock Salt on one day.
The purpose being that the Potash is soft and any roadways dug into it collapse after a few weeks. Any permanent roadways have to be dug through the Rocksalt with links up into the extraction areas.

The sale of Rocksalt is a bonus as it would need to be extracted anyway.

I do not know if a similar situation will apply to the new mine if it gets developed due to it being at a greater depth.

[richard]

Fair enough - the halite would be like the anhydrite - not economic on its own, but if you are already in it...

The Zechstein's halite in Cheshire is much shallower and thicker, so it is a lot cheaper to mine it there.

[seacoaler]

Whitby Gazette article-

http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/bus ... -1-4807937

'The boss of the firm behind a new potash mine within the North York Moors has given the strongest indication yet it will be built closer to Whitby than Scarborough.'

Sirius Minerals website, Transport -

http://www.siriusminerals.com/york-pota ... #transport

'Twin 600mm lined and buried (1.2m below surface) pipelines carrying the Polyhalite ore as suspended particles in water
Approximately 30 miles to Teesside - the preferred processing and port site'

AND

'Dry transport alternatives to avoid requirement for drying ore to be investigated'

[Greedy Boards]

Apologies, but going off on a slight tangent, can anyone confirm when the brick extension was built to the original 1847 stone shed at Whitby? Have just purchased the two road NER locomotive shed from TMS, having confirmed its 50G origin, but am not sure when the brick structure was built.

Regards

Greedy Boards

[60041]

According to Ken Hoole, the original building was built in 1847. In march 1867 a 99' 8" long extension was planned plus a 48' workshop and stores, all at the south end of the original. Following objections, the extension was built to a modified design of reduced height, and the fitters shop was built at the north end instead. The stores remained at the south end. The extension was then rebuilt to the full height in 1903. The fitters shop was demolished in 1940 after being damaged by a bomb.

[Bryan]

From the Northern Echo today.
Designs unveiled to National Parks.
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9 ... onal_Park/

[60041]

Well that seems to rule out the use of rail once and for all, it seems rather strange that the construction and use of a 30 mile underground pipeline is considered better than the rebuilding of 2 1/2 miles of railway and taking it out by rail. I suppose the sheer volume of material that they propose mining would overwhelm the Esk Valley line in its present, rationalised, form; but surely the cost of drying the polyhalite after transport will be huge, whereas rail could carry the ore dry.

[Bryan]

Also on the BBC local site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-yo ... e-19461831

[lnerjp]

Unfortunately it was never going to be transported by rail, the reasons have been posted on here before, there is much more to do than relay 2 1/2 miles of track. The Esk valley branch would require a lot of money spending on it.

J.P.

[seacoaler]

I don't think it does rule rail out , they say in there own literature that they are investigating dry methods of transport . This would be supplementary to the potash pipeline .
There will be vast quantities of spoil coming out of the mine , are the NYMNP going to allow great spoil heaps ?
Then there will also be large quantities of rock salt, a saleable by product , can this be piped in solution ?
Rail is considered by most to be environmentally friendly, especially compared to 44 tonne lorries trundling across the national park . I'm convinced this will be considered as supplementary transport method . Strengthening the Esk bridges not a great expense as viewed against the whole scheme cost.

[Bryan]

Will any rock salt be produced?
Just because the existing mine does so does not mean that this one will.
The proposed mine will be working a different type of potash and that may mean different techniques.
The existing mine only mines potash on 1 day a week solely to construct permanent access roads in the mine as any workings in the "Salt" collapse after a short span of time. So all permanent access is through the salt under the potash and then up into the workings.
Any production of Rock salt is a bonus.
Detail given at a talk on the Potash mining to our group last year.

Question maybe for Richard to give an opinion on.

[seacoaler]

Good question , I am making an assumption on geology.
I have been down the existing mine and seem to remember they had to mine the rock salt to get at the Potash but this may not be the case in new mine.
However having an alternative dry transport system for the valuable Potash product must be a consideration and if the waste product from access tunnels is not rock salt what do they do with it ?

[sawdust]

Good question , I am making an assumption on geology.
I have been down the existing mine and seem to remember they had to mine the rock salt to get at the Potash but this may not be the case in new mine.
However having an alternative dry transport system for the valuable Potash product must be a consideration and if the waste product from access tunnels is not rock salt what do they do with it ?

Walk about the national park dropping it out of holes in their trouser pockets!

Sawdust.

[Bryan]

The existing mine spoil is deposited on the seabed I believe. What there is of it.

[mr B]

pipe line ?
look at your house under soil pipes , yes they have fall on them!
no fall no running out of the other end.

work it out