Energy and Mines 10, 20, 30: Curriculum Guidelines

Energy and Mines 10, 20, 30 Curriculum Guide Main Menu

Module 24: Potash - Refinement, Distribution, Use and Economic Significance (Optional)

Suggested time: 10-15 hours

Level: Introductory

Prerequisite: None

Module Overview
Students will learn how potash is refined both from the solid and the liquid (solution) state. As well, students will learn how refined potash is used and its economic effect on agriculture.

Foundational Objectives

To become familiar with the legalities of resource exploration and production.
To become familiar with the nature and components of Saskatchewan's major underground resources and how they are extracted and purified through refining and processing.
To become familiar with the nature, location and operation of the distribution systems through which Saskatchewan energy and mineral resources are transported.
To become familiar with the local and global market for Saskatchewan energy and mineral resources and the immediate and ultimate uses of those resources.

Common Essential Learnings Foundational Objectives

To use the Internet to investigate potash refining and marketing. (TL)
To design and carry out experiments on the effect of potash on plant growth. (CCT)
To prepare graphs and charts illustrating aspects of potash processing and marketing. (COM, NUM)

Learning Objectives	Notes
24.1 To describe the steps in processing potash ore from the head frame of a conventional mine to the mill.	Students could use Internet resources, charts and information pamphlets to explain the following steps in the refining process: Flotation Drying Screening Compaction Recrystallization Quality analysis. Students can refer to prepared flow charts showing the concentration process, or develop their own flow charts in order to understand and explain the process. A guided tour of a potash mine and mill would be desirable in connection with this module as well as with Modules 23 and 25.
24.2 To trace the steps in processing potash from a solution mine.	Students should understand that milling potash from a solution mine involves different steps in the flotation, evaporation and crystallization stages of refining the ore, as compared to a conventional mine.
	Students should also be aware of the uses and chemical formulae of the other potash fertilizers. They could explore the significance and benefits of Saskatchewan potash to agriculture locally and internationally.
24.4 To investigate how potash (potassium) fertilizers affect plant development.	Students could research the symptoms of potash deficiency in plants, the crops most affected and the value of potassium-rich fertilizers in crop production. The local agronomists might be a good community resource. Guided by their teacher through the process of good experimental design, students could set up their own experiments to test hypotheses about the effects of potassium on plant growth. They could use several specimens of the same kind of plant in each of a number of containers with a non-nutrient growth medium such as vermiculite. They could provide distilled water to the control group and an equal volume a basic nutrient mixture containing varying concentrations (including 0%) of potassium, to each of the other specimen groups. By recording data such as colour, robustness, size and number of leaves over several weeks and harvesting the plants and comparing the mean (preferably dry) mass per plant for the various set-ups, students could evaluate their hypotheses and assess the validity and reliability of their findings. Students could refer to Horticulture 10, 20, 30 (2002) for guidance on plant growth experimentation.
24.5 To describe other uses of Saskatchewan potash and its by-products.	Saskatchewan produces potassium chloride. Students could investigate and describe the uses of potash in industry. They could also investigate the uses made of the tailings left after the potash has been extracted.
To become acquainted with the forms and uses of potash produced outside Saskatchewan.	Students could research potassium nitrate and potassium carbonate.
To know how and where, potash is transported.	Saskatchewan potash is distributed all over the world. Students could explore the potential and actual markets, how potash is transported, the quantities involved and any safety precautions that are necessary during shipment. As well, they could research the legal requirements involved in exporting to foreign countries. Students could explore the impact that the need for rail service to potash mines has had on the continued existence of certain rail lines and the effects on the grain handling industry.
To be familiar with the economics of potash marketing, including the systems governing price setting, government incentives, taxes and royalties	Students could review market research data and read newspaper articles, Internet information and company publications, to glean appropriate facts and figures. Students could compare the potash markets, both domestic and foreign, with the markets for coal, oil and gas and uranium. A spreadsheet and its graphing function could be used. (TL, NUM)