| The size of the Verde potash deposit may be understated in my opinion because the leases have not all been drilled. I recall reading this fact sometime ago. But, another nice aspect of the deposit is that this is a deposit of K2O, not a deposit of KCl. If we assume that the K (potassium) in both types of potash is equally bio available to the growing plants (I am not a biologist), then consider this interesting thought from college chemistry. The atomic weight of oxygen is 16, the atomic weight of chlorine is 35.45, the atomic weight of potassium is 39.1, the atomic weight of potassium oxide (K2O) is 94.2. the atomic weight of potassium chloride (KCl) is 74.55. If we divide the atomic weight of potassium, by the atomic weight of potassium chloride (K/(K+Cl) = 39.1/(39.1+35.45) we get 52.5% potassium K and 47.5% chlorine Cl, but if we divide the atomic weight of K2 by the atomic weight of K2+O we get 83.3% potassium, and 16.7% oxygen. Now, 83.3% divided by 52.5% produces a nice number: ..... which is 1.58, or + 58%. In other words, a ton of purified KO contains 58% more potassium K than a ton of purified potassium chloride KCL. No wonder the Verde crop experiments have worked out so well. Criss has slipped 58% more potassium into the experiments than he admits. As far as transportation costs go, once the rock matrix has been removed, and there is pure KO, the transportation costs per ton of actual potassium K should be less than the costs of transporting an equal tonnage of K, if it is in the form of KCl. In other words, adjusting for the fact that the ranchers want the K, not the O, or the Cl, our company has a sizable transportation advantage over shippers of KCl. Also when we go to the company website, we should note that the amount of potassium indicated by drilling on the leases is understated. There is 58% more potassium K than we would normally think when comparing it to a potassium chloride deposit. In other words, a ton of K2O contains 58% more than a ton of KCl. Nice to know when we add up potential tonnages of potash. |
