Drilling reveals a rise in potash at mine site

Parent company Sirius Minerals said the results from its latest temporary drilling site show an increase in the Total Mineral Resource to 2.66 billion tonnes, up from 2.2 billion tonnes last November.

The calculated deposit covers just seven per cent of the York Potash Project, which could mean total resources of 38 billion tonnes.

This is based on the assumption that the temporary drilling site is representative of the rest of the project area.

Sirius said the test results indicate an average grade of 85.7 per cent polyhalite, a multi-nutrient form of potash.

This is up from 82.4 per cent in November.

The firm said the upgrade to both the quantity and quality of the potash will boost financial backers’ confidence in the mining project.

The deposits are already known to be the largest and highest quality in the world.

The latest tests from the temporary drilling also indicate that the 2.66 billion tonnes include 820 million tonnes of polyhalite at an average grade of 87.3 per cent.

Independent geological consultants have upgraded this very high quality polyhalite to “indicated status”.

Sirius said this is significant as it gives an internationally recognised status from independent mineral experts that will boost confidence in the project in financial markets and when it comes to finding lenders.

The news comes as the company’s temporary drilling programme draws to an end.

Sirius said the proposed mine will employ 1,000 people directly and thousands more across the supply and support indus- tries.

Chris Fraser, managing director and CEO of Sirius, said: “The scale and quality of the York Potash deposit has been known about for some time, but the upgrade to an indicated status is another key milestone for York Potash and one that will give further comfort in the strength of the project and its globally significant deposit.”

A planning decision on the new mine is expected from the North York Moors National Park Authority on July 2.

If it goes ahead the new potash mine will be the first in the UK for over 40 years.

Potash is a key nutrient for plant growth and without it food can’t be produced with the same level of efficiency and certainty.

The proposed location for the mine access is an existing farm and commercial forestry block located two kilometres south of Sneaton village and four kilometres south of Whitby.

It is located off the B1416, close to Red Gate, and has good access to the A171.

York Potash is working closely with local and regional education and training bodies to deliver a programme of training, apprenticeships and bursaries to ensure that local people have the appropriate skills to benefit directly from jobs at the mine.

The team behind the proposals is in talks with local stakeholders and communities.

Sirius said it plans to use state-of-the-art technology and engineering so that the visual and environmental impact of the mine is minimised.

[email protected]