From the Whitby Gazette
Published on Friday 25 November 2011 10:18

Quote
"MORE appointments have been made to the team at York Potash which is looking to build a new potash mine near Whitby.

The company has appointed Doncaster-based Alan Auld Engineering Ltd, a leading mine shaft lining design specialist to come up with a “low-profile, low visual impact minehead” for when a location for the proposed project is identified.

It is thought mine shafts will be sunk to over 1000 metres.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of parent company Sirius Minerals said: “We recognise that doing all we can to minimise the visual and environmental impact of the ultimate minehead location is vitally important.

“Alan Auld Engineering is a world-leading firm in this field and will provide the technical design input to help us achieve this goal.”

Meanwhile, non-executive director Russell Scrimshaw has become the new chairman of Sirius Minerals after Chris Catlow vacated the role for personal reasons and now becomes deputy chairman."

Unquote

I think the real fun will begin in earnest when Scarborough council, environmental activists and the National Park authority get into the fray. I can hear them sharpening their knives already

The sort of money this project is attracting will mean the parks
Can moan all they like the government will overrule them :thumbsup:

I know what you mean, I've been following the story of the Ryedale sour gas processing plant, too.

"Vital to the UK and regional economy" 😠

Just been reading a summary of the scoping study (Published today) for the York Project. If people were in doubt of the money involved in opening a major deep pit operation, then this is a real eye opener!!

The Phase 1 capital construction cost is estimated at 2.71 Billion US Dollars, phase 2 an additional $3.28 Billion !!!!! :ohmygod:

Of this $710 million is for sinking the shafts, fitting out and winders.

Unusual set up,drifts driven down 2k to a surface depth of 750ft,then shafts sunk to a depth of 1400m,so headgear winders underground,

Proposal when in full production is to raise 15m ton per annum.

Where did you see 15m tonnes? From what I saw its 4.1 Million Tonne

I guess the drift is down to the bunter sandstone level (Major Aquifer)

Sorry cannot do these links,but take a look on the Welshcoalmines forum,re Other Mines

Apparently there will be 5 skips each lifting 30ton

The aquifer above the sandstone was a reason Boulby never longwalled,although this company are investigating.

I can't see longwalling ever working there, with the thickness of the seam ( approx 40m), the retreat collapse would inundate the mine (Boulby at the time of the breach was an interesting place! I'll always remember installing conveyor structure waist deep in salt water!)
I personally think they would mine in on the yield pillar system they use at Boulby, but possibly on three levels.

Interesting reading :)

http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/forum/read.php?4,38657,page=1 

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Pillar working makes more sense in that seam thickness i agree,

This new mine being deeper than Boulby,there must be a tremendous heat down there.

Seems most of the mine and shaft heads are to be located below ground at the foot of a 2km decline, similar working methods to Boulby with the potash transported by pipeline in solution to Teesside for processing/export.

Some more recent news snippets:

http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/business/boulby-man-takes-over-1-3882335 

http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/business/science-centre-to-accompany-potash-mine-1-3928297 

http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/business/mine-project-hits-national-headlines-1-4040796 

http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/business/potash-drill-find-is-world-class-1-3914968 

http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/regional/mine-firm-hails-moors-mineral-find-1-4636760 

http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/business/new-potash-mine-may-open-in-2017-1-4525348 

The company website:

http://www.yorkpotash.co.uk/ 

Things seem to be progressing, I pass the impressive drilling sites every day on the way to Scarborough. They have also got seismics laid out for several Km's over the prospect at the moment - spotted a Vibroseis truck parked at the drilling site the other day too 😉

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Cheers for the update Jimbo :thumbup:

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A press release from Spectrum from Woking from March 2011 stated that they and Hornet Geoconsulting will be reprocessing and integrating several vintages of heritage seismics and borehole logs into a brand new survey to be shot in the area from Hawsker down to Scarborough in June/July 2012.

So it should be underway around now.

Local councils mention that the effects on holiday traffic will be minimal.

They've obviously never met up with an array of vibrators on country roads before!! VERY wide and VERY slow.

Following CPL's recent 3D shallow-water survey off the coast further north, this is probably the most extensive seismic survey in the area for decades.

Other Vibroseis surveys with (sour) gas targets are planned in the Vale of Pickering, but who the geophysical operators are, I don't know (yet).

Cheers
D. (ex-exploration geophysicist)

So it should be underway around now.

It is, see my comments above 😉

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They've obviously never met up with an array of vibrators on country roads before!! VERY wide and VERY slow.

I can't be the only one wondering if this was the result of an Ann Summers lorry shedding its load (and yes, fellow school boys, I didn't choose that last phrase with care). 😉

They've obviously never met up with an array of vibrators on country roads before!! VERY wide and VERY slow.

I can't be the only one wondering if this was the result of an Ann Summers lorry shedding its load (and yes, fellow school boys, I didn't choose that last phrase with care). ;)

😉 😉 😉 😉

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Naughty boy!!

They say a sweep of say 10-250 Hertz can give you quite a thrill 😉

The machine stops, lifts up its rear end and starts off its downward pressure with a low and throbbing tremble and moves up to a high frequency climax in around 12 seconds.
Very deep penetration, too.

(it's all true - been there and dunnit!)

And that every couple of minutes for a whole week or so on survey.

When it comes to satisfaction on the job you can't beat being a vibrator driver. Visit a seismic crew, they are the ones with the permanent smiles. 😉

A new newsletter was just issued.

http://yorkpotash.co.uk/site/assets/files/1163/dec_update_pages_web.pdf 

Well spotted - thanks Chris.

Interesting pie-chart showing support from local people.

Chris.

The solution pipeline has been scrapped in favour of underground conveyors adding $280M USD to the capex but lowering operating costs by $10/t

http://yorkpotash.co.uk/news/new-mineral-transport-system-announced/