| Basis for focus area |
Outline of extent of potash evaporite mineralization (as KCl) in the Paradox Basin; outline from Hite and Cater (1972). |
| Identified resources |
Identified resources of potash. Historical production of potash and salt. |
| Production |
About 1.2 million stu of KCl produced from 2007-2018. Potash production began in 1964. |
| Status |
Past and current potash mining and exploration; past magnesium exploration. |
| Estimated resources |
Intrepid Potash has 26 million stu of proven and probable KCl reserves at their active mine (Intrepid Potash, 2021); Stirrett and Han (2020) reported an Inferred potash resource of 65.7 Mt at 42.7% KCl plus 49.6 Mt at 35.8% KCl at the Sage Plain project. Santos and Gilbride (2013) reported 902 Mt at 20% KCl at the Hatch Point project. |
| Geologic maps |
Horton and others (2017), scale 1:500,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate aeromagnetic coverage and partly adequate (5%) aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation hosts the favorable evaporites. |
| Deposits |
Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation evaporites (potash). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
UMOS (Utah Geological Survey, 2021). |
| Geochemical evidence |
Intrepid Potash's reserves show average ore grade from 44 to 46% KCl (Intrepid Potash, 2021); drilling at the Sage Plain project showed a 7.3 m potash bed averaging 43% KCl and a 5.5 m bed averaging 36% KCl in cycle 18 (Stirrett and Han, 2020). Hite (1978) included analyses showing potash beds with up to 33% K2O in the Lisbon Valley area. Numerous other publications, such as Massoth (2012) and Santos and Gilbride (2013), also include potash grade data. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Unknown. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining's Live Data Search, Online Oil and Gas Information System (https://oilgas.ogm.utah.gov/oilgasweb/live-data-search/lds-main.xhtml). |
| Comments |
Extensive literature and publications are available detailing the potash deposits in the Paradox Basin. This table only includes a few of those references. A helpful summary publication is Massoth (2012). No good potash resource estimates are currently available for the Paradox Basin as a whole. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Potash deposits are generally a few thousand to several thousand feet below the ground surface. |
| Authors |
Andrew Rupke. |
| New data needs |
Geochemical analysis of existing potash core. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
None requested at this time. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
None requested at this time. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar inadequate. |
