Ppg Industries Canada Ltd.

Edward P Helvenston

Elmar L Goldsmith

Byron P Edmonds

The invention disclosed herein relates to solution mining soluble ore deposits by creating a cavity substantially entirely filled with a deep bed of rubble. Solvent introduced at the top of the cavity is permitted to percolate downwardly through the rubble and is withdrawn near the bottom of the cavity. More specifically, the invention relates to selective solution mining generally horizontal beds of sylvinite, i.e., a mixture of crystals of halite (NaCl) and sylvite (KCl) wherein water or salt brine is washed down a generally vertical bore hole into the deposits and recovered enriched with dissolved KCl.

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Englewood, CO, United States of America

Edward P Helvenston