Technical Report Summary
of the
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab
Prepared for:
Intrepid Potash–Moab, LLC
Revised Report Date:
February 14, 2024
Effective Date:
December 31, 2023
Prepared by:
660 Rood Avenue, Suite A
Grand Junction, Colorado 81501
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | i |
Date and Signature Page
This report titled “Technical Report Summary of the 2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab” is effective as of December 31, 2023, and was prepared and signed by RESPEC Company, LLC, acting as a Qualified Person Firm.
Signed and Dated February 14, 2024.
signed RESPEC Company, LLC
Susan B Patton, PE
On behalf of RESPEC Company, LLC
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | ii |
Technical Report Summary
of the
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab
Table of Contents
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | iii |
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | iv |
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17.5 | Adequacy of Current Plans and Compliance | |
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | v |
List of Tables
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List of Figures
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | vii |
List of Abbreviations
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° | degree |
% | percent |
APR | Annual Percentage Rate |
BLM | United States Bureau of Land Management |
CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
cfs | cubic feet per second |
CMC | carboxy-methyl cellulose |
DRGW | Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad |
DSM | Dutch State Mines |
EOY | end of year |
F | Fahrenheit |
ft | feet or foot |
gpm | gallons per minute |
Intrepid | Intrepid Potash, Inc. |
Intrepid-Moab | Intrepid Potash–Moab, LLC |
IRR | Internal Rate of Return |
K2O | potassium oxide |
KCl | sylvite or potassium chloride |
M | million |
Ma | mega annum (one-million years) |
mm | millimeter |
MOP | Muriate of Potash |
MSL | mean sea level |
mm | millimeter |
Mt | million tons |
NaCl | sodium chloride |
NPV | Net Present Value |
NaCl | halite |
% | percent |
PFD | process flow diagrams |
QP | Qualified Person |
RESPEC | RESPEC Company, LLC |
SEC | United States Securities Exchange Commission |
SITLA | Utah School and Institutional Lands Administration |
SME | Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration |
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | viii |
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SOE | statement of earnings |
t | ton |
tpd | tons per day |
tpy | tons per year |
TRS | Technical Report Summary |
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 1 |
1.0Executive Summary
RESPEC Company, LLC (RESPEC) was commissioned by Intrepid Potash, Inc. (Intrepid) to prepare the 2023 Technical Report Summary (TRS) for the Intrepid Potash–Moab, LLC (Intrepid-Moab) property. Previous TRS’s for the property are listed in Table 2-1. Resources and reserves are estimated according to United States (US) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) S-K 1300 regulations.
1.1Property Description and Ownership
Intrepid-Moab’s Cane Creek Mine is located approximately 20 miles west of Moab, Utah, which is 234 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Colorado River runs north–south along the eastern operations boundary. Intrepid-Moab’s property covers an area of approximately 14,100 acres of land. Intrepid-Moab’s potash leases include 10,100 acres from the State of Utah and approximately 200 acres from the US federal government through the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
1.2Geology and Mineralization
The depositional history of eastern Utah’s vast salt and potash resources begins during the regionally arid Pennsylvanian Period, 330–310 million years ago. An immense block of the Earth’s crust, in what is today western Colorado, was thrust upward to form the Uncompahgre Highlands and identified as the westernmost expression of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains. As is common throughout geologic history, dramatic uplift was coupled with subsidence in an adjoining area. The subsequent topographical basin was inundated by seawater as it subsided. Throughout the Pennsylvanian Period, sea levels rose and fell. With each retreat of the sea, the Paradox Basin, as it is called, became devoid of fresh sea water, allowing the process of evaporation to dominate which resulted in widespread precipitation of chloride minerals. This retreat/inflow cycle is known to have occurred a minimum of 29 times, with each marked by a specific and predictable sequence of sedimentary deposition. This series of depositional cycles is collectively known as the Paradox Formation. Potash is documented to exist in 17 of the 29 cycles, and it is from these formational cycles that commercial production of potash occurs.
1.3Status of Exploration, Development and Operations
The property has been in continuous operation by Intrepid-Moab since 1999. Confirmation drilling and mine development are an integral part of the mine operations.
1.4Mineral Resource Estimates
The resource model created from the exploration and sampling database served as the basis for the mineral resource estimate. The resources reported as mineralized rock in place, exclusive of mineral reserves effective December 31, 2023, are shown in Table 1-1.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 2 |
Table 1-1. Sylvinite In Situ Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 31, 2023
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Moab - Sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 31, 2023 based on $450/Product Ton Mine Site |
| Resources | | |
Beds 5 & 9 | Sylvinite1 | Grade | Contained K2O | Cutoff2 | Processing Recovery |
| (Mt) | (%K2O) | (Mt) | | (%) |
Measured Mineral Resources | 97 | 26 | 25 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
Indicated Mineral Resources | 190 | 25 | 47 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
Measured + Indicated Mineral Resources | 287 | 25 | 72 | | |
Inferred Mineral Resources | 38 | 23 | 9 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
1Sylvinite is a mixed evaporite containing NaCl and KCl. Pure KCl equates to 63.17% K2O by mass. |
2Solution mining resource cutoff for flooded old working is the mining extents boundary. |
Mineral Resources were prepared by RESPEC, a qualified firm for the estimate and independent of Intrepid Potash, for EOY 2023. |
Mineral Resources are reported exclusive of Mineral Reserves, on a 100% basis. |
Mt = million tons, % = percentage, K2O = potassium oxide, ft = feet |
1.5Mineral Reserve Estimates
Using the mineral resource grids and applying modifying factors to a 25-year cavern mining plan EOY 2023 reserves were estimated. Table 1-2 shows the estimated reserve summaries for EOY 2023.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 3 |
Table 1-2. Potash Mineral Reserve Estimate effective December 31, 2023
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Moab - Potash Mineral Reserve Estimate effective December 31, 2023, based on $360/Product Ton Mine Site |
| Reserves | | |
Beds 5 and 9 | In-Place KCl | In-Situ Grade1 | Product2 | Brine Cutoff Grade3 | Processing Recovery |
| (Mt) | (%K2O) | (Mt) | (%K2O) | (%) |
Proven Mineral Reserves | 3.1 | 28.3 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 83 |
Probable Mineral Reserves | 0.4 | 28.9 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 83 |
Total Mineral Reserves | 3.5 | 28.4 | 2.6 | | |
1In-situ grade is the amount of K2O in the remaining pillars of the old works and is used to calculate the In-Place KCl. |
2Product tons are calculated by multiplying In-Place KCl by: dissolution factor of 89%, areal recovery of 100%, geologic factor of 94%, plant recovery of 86%, handling loss factor of 97.5%, and product purity of 104% (1/0.96). |
3Brine cutoff grade is the amount of K2O in the extracted brine necessary to cover the cash costs of production. |
Mineral Reserves were prepared by RESPEC, a qualified firm for the estimate and independent of Intrepid Potash, for EOY 2023. |
Mineral Reserves are reported exclusive of Mineral Resources, on a 100% basis. |
Mt = million tons, % = percentage, K2O = potassium oxide |
1.6Summary of Capital and Operating Cost Estimates
The operating cost per potash product ton from solution mining is estimated at $198/t for the next 5 years with a credit for the byproducts of $26/ton of potash. The estimated potash operating cost is $172/ton for the 25-Year Mine Plan.
Capital investment necessary to complete the mine plan includes $3M for well rehabilitation, the development of additional caverns at a cost of $10M. This investment is in addition to the ongoing sustaining capital requirements and occurs approximately every 10 years. Reclamation costs in Year 25 are estimated to be $9.6M.
1.7Economic Analysis
The Net Present Value (NPV) at 8% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for the before- and after-tax estimated cash flow is positive. The sensitivity to product price and operating cost for an 8% APR was evaluated. Varying costs and sales price plus and minus 10% the NPV remains positive.
1.8Permitting
The mines are in operation and necessary state and federal operating permits are in place.
1.9Conclusions and Recommendations
There are significant potash resources within the area under the control of Intrepid-Moab such that the property can support an average 102,800 ton per year (tpy) production rate for the foreseeable future.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 4 |
2.0Introduction
2.1Purpose and Basis of Report
This document was prepared to report the Intrepid-Moab mineral resources in terms of in-situ tons and reserves in terms of saleable product at Intrepid-Moab under the SEC S-K 1300 rules (2018). The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) Guide for Reporting Exploration Information, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SME 2017) (The SME Guide) supplements the modifying factors used to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves. Previous TRS’s filed for the property are listed in Table 2-1.
2.2Terms of Reference
According to 17 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 229.1301 (2021), the following definitions are included for reference:
An inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. An inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of geological confidence of all mineral resources, which prevents the application of the modifying factors in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability. An inferred mineral resource, therefore, may not be converted to a mineral reserve.
An indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of adequate geological evidence and sampling. An indicated mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than the level of confidence of a measured mineral resource and may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve. As used in this subpart, the term adequate geological evidence means evidence that is sufficient to establish geological and grade or quality continuity with reasonable certainty.
A measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of conclusive geological evidence and sampling. As used in this subpart, the term conclusive geological evidence means evidence that is sufficient to test and confirm geological and grade or quality continuity.
Modifying factors are the factors that a qualified person must apply to indicated and measured mineral resources and then evaluate in order to establish the economic viability of mineral reserves. A qualified person must apply and evaluate modifying factors to convert measured and indicated mineral resources to proven and probable mineral reserves. These factors include but are not restricted to mining; processing; metallurgical; infrastructure; economic; marketing; legal; environmental compliance; plans, negotiations, or agreements with local individuals or groups; and governmental factors.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 5 |
A probable mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of an indicated and, in some cases, a measured mineral resource.
A proven mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured mineral resource. For a proven mineral reserve, the qualified person has a high degree of confidence in the results obtained from the application of the modifying factors and in the estimates of tonnage and grade or quality. A proven mineral reserve can only result from conversion of a measured mineral resource.
Throughout the report, reserves are presented in tons of K2O and KCl. Historically, assay data have been reported in terms of % K2O and reserves in equivalent tons of K2O. Sylvite is potassium chloride (KCl) and, in many historical reports, reserve tons or product tons are recorded in terms of tons of KCl. Pure KCl equates to 63.17% K2O by mass.
2.3Sources of Information
Previously completed reserve estimations under SEC Guide 7 (2008) rules for this property and TRS’s reporting mineral resources and mineral reserves under the SEC S-K 1300 rules are listed in Table 2-1.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 6 |
Table 2-1. Summary of Reports
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Effective EOY | Title | Reference |
2007 | 2007 Resource and Reserve Estimate for Solution Mine at Cane Creek Mine | Agapito 2007a |
2007 | Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Reserves at Intrepid Potash—Moab, LLC | Agapito 2007b |
2009 | Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Potash Reserves at Intrepid Potash—Moab, LLC | Agapito 2010 |
2012 | Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Potash Reserves at Intrepid Potash—Moab, LLC | Agapito 2013 |
2015 | Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Potash Reserves at Intrepid Potash—Moab, LLC | Agapito 2016 |
2018 | 2018 Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Reserves at Intrepid Potash—Moab, LLC | Agapito 2019 |
2021 | Technical Report Summary, 2021 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab | Agapito 2022 |
2021 | Technical Report Summary, REVISED 2021 Estimated Resources and Reserves for Intrepid Potash–Moab | RESPEC 2023 |
2.4Personal Inspection
Personal inspection of the properties has occurred over the years by the QP. The most recent inspection by the QP took place on May 17, 2021. The inspection began with a tour of the tailings lake then the solar evaporating ponds. In addition, the wellfields (injection and extraction), processing plant, product packaging and shipping areas were all inspected. During the site visit, harvesting was occurring, and the plant was operating. The plant is typically idle during the peak evaporation season from June 1 to September 1.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 7 |
3.0Property Description
3.1Location and Area of the Property
Intrepid-Moab’s Cane Creek Mine is located approximately 20 miles west of Moab, Utah, which is 234 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah (Figure 3-1). The Colorado River runs north–south along the eastern operations boundary. Intrepid-Moab’s property covers an area of approximately 14,100 acres of land.
3.2Mineral Rights
Intrepid leases approximately 10,100 acres from the State of Utah and approximately 200 acres from the U.S. federal government through the BLM. Intrepid-Moab owns approximately 3,800 surface acres overlying and adjacent to portions of the mining leases with the State of Utah as shown in Figure 3-2 and as described in the lease and property access in Table 3-1.
3.3Significant Encumbrances
There are no significant encumbrances to the property, including current and future permitting requirements and associated timelines, permit conditions, and violations and fines.
3.4Significant Factors
There are no significant factors and risks that may affect access, title, or the right or ability to perform work on the property.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 8 |
Figure 3-1. Intrepid-Moab Location Map
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 9 |
Figure 3-2. Intrepid-Moab Lease Map
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Table 3-1. Leases and Property Rights
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Federal Land Lease Number | Lessee | Lease Type | Mine | Date | Royalty Rate | Readjustment Due | Acres (BLM) | Amount Paid |
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UTU0143659 | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Pot Fringe Acre NC Lse | Moab | 1959 | Minimum royalty $3/acre | 8/1/2039 | 200 | |
State of Utah Land Lease Number | Lessee | Lease Type | Mine | Date | End Date | Rental Period | Acres (SITLA) | Rental Amount |
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ML9638 | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 1955 | 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2024–12/31/2024 | 440 | $1,760 | |
ML11800 | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 1956 | 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2024–12/31/2024 | 699 | $2,796 | |
ML52611OBA | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 2013 | 9/30/2023 | 9/3/2023–9/02/2024 | 3,030 | $35,310 | |
UO486ST | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 1959 | 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2024–12/31/2024 | 818 | $3,276 | |
UO10797ST | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 1959 | 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2024–12/31/2024 | 2,040 | $8,160 | |
UO13167ST | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 1960 | 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2024–12/31/2024 | 1,800 | $7,200 | |
UO13223ST | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 1960 | 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2024–12/31/2024 | 238 | $956 | |
UO16133ST | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 1960 | 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2024–12/31/2024 | 885 | $3,540 | |
UO18249ST | Intrepid Potash-Moab, LLC | Potash | Moab | 1960 | 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2024–12/31/2024 | 180 | $724 | |
SITLA = Utah School and Institutional Lands Trust Administration |
NOTE—Coordinate System: Utah South Zone State Plane, NAD83 |
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4.0Accessibility
4.1Topography, Elevation, and Vegetation
The Intrepid-Moab property is a unique high-altitude desert landscape formed from the sandstone of ancient seafloors and sand dunes. Elevations range from 3,900 feet (ft) to 4,400 ft above mean sea level (MSL).
The sandy loam soil supports sparse perennial bunchgrasses such as galleta, alkali sacaton, three-awn, inland saltgrass, Indian ricegrass, and sand dropseed. Native plants include cold hardy agave, cactus, and yucca.
4.2Property Access
Access to the property is predominantly via state highway 191 and state road 279, locally referred to as Potash Road. A Union Pacific/Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (DRGW) rail spur services the property. The nearest town to the Intrepid Potash-Moab property is Moab, Utah (with an estimated population of about 5,300). Salt Lake City, Utah (population of 200,500) and Grand Junction, Colorado (population of 67,000), are located approximately 240 and 120 miles to the west and east, respectively, by road, and are the nearest major industrial and commercial airline terminals. Moab also has a commercial airline terminal with scheduled flights to Salt Lake City. Figure 4-1 shows the means of access to the property.
4.3Climate
Average temperatures range between a low of approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) during winter months and a high of approximately 100°F during summer months. The area experiences about 300 days of sunshine and an average of 5 percent (%) relative humidity. The semi-arid climate experiences an annual rainfall at the mine site of about 7.3 inches, distributed evenly throughout the year. Most precipitation occurs in late summer and early autumn months. Much of this precipitation comes in the form of sudden summer thunderstorms and is lost in runoff to the Colorado River. The climate is favorable for year-round solution mining operations. The precipitation history has been recorded on site since 1988 and is included in Figure 4-2.
4.4Infrastructure Availability
The nearby Colorado River provides the Intrepid-Moab mining operation with make-up water under existing water rights with the State of Utah for a water supply of 9 cubic feet per second (cfs).
The Intrepid-Moab mine has been in operation (solution mining) since 1970 and, as a result, has the infrastructure and available personnel. The local area population is sufficient to support the Intrepid-Moab mine.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 12 |
Figure 4-1. Property Access
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Figure 4-2. Site Precipitation Record
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5.0History
Conventional underground mining began in Bed 5 in 1964 by Texasgulf, Inc. (Texasgulf), but various mining problems caused a conversion to a system combining solution mining and solar evaporation in 1971. Prior to 1970, approximately 6.5 million tons (Mt) of sylvinite ore was mined and from that, 1.7 Mt of potash produced. Mining was by continuous miners and made difficult by the irregular floor, gas, and high rock temperatures. The height mined was typically 8 ft. The dip of the ore was such that maintaining the miners in the seam was difficult. The seam floor rolls and folds resulted in an irregular mine plan with many large areas left unmined as pillars. In some areas, secondary mining resulted in high extraction.
The Moab Salt operation was purchased by Intrepid in 1999. In 2000, Intrepid-Moab drilled two new recovery wells to revitalize production from Bed 5. Production from Bed 5 had declined from near 100,000 t in 1994 to 60,000 t in 1999 (see Figure 5-1). After completion of the two new recovery wells, the brine concentration improved, and production increased to near 100,000 t in 2001. Maintaining production at or near the target rate of 100,000 tpy was difficult from Bed 5 because of declining product concentration. It was believed that solution mining over the prior 32 years had solution mined most of the remnant pillars in the old workings and that active solution mining was restricted to the updip faces of the mine ribs.
Figure 5-1. Historical Product Tons of KCl from Beds 5 and 9
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 15 |
Methods to enhance the production rate were evaluated by Intrepid-Moab and resulted in the decision to develop solution mining in Bed 9. Bed 9 is located 800 to 1,000 ft below Bed 5 and is of higher KCl content. Bed 9 had not been solution mined previously, although, some test mining was completed by the prior owners in the late-1960s. A novel method of solution mining was adopted for recovery of potash from Bed 9. Moab Salt-27 and Moab Salt-28 were drilled “horizontally” in 2002 in Bed 9 to connect and provide pathways for the liquor injected in Moab Salt-27 to contact the sylvinite and differentially dissolve the sylvite before being lifted from Moab Salt-28. Currently, Moab Salt-29 connects Moab Salt-27 and -28 and serves as an alternative to Moab Salt-27 for injection. Figure 5-1 presents the total (Beds 5 and 9) historical potash production KCl tons from 1965 to 2023.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 16 |
6.0Geologic Setting
6.1Regional Geology
The depositional history of eastern Utah’s vast salt and potash resources begins during the regionally arid Pennsylvanian Period, 330–310 million years ago. An immense block of the Earth’s crust, in what is today western Colorado, was thrust upward to form the Uncompahgre Highlands and identified as the westernmost expression of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains. As is common throughout geologic history, dramatic uplift was coupled with subsidence in an adjoining area. In this instance, the adjacent landscape to the southwest experienced significant down-warping. The subsequent topographical basin was inundated by seawater as it subsided. Throughout the Pennsylvanian Period, sea levels rose and fell with stunning regularity as reflected by Pennsylvanian strata worldwide. With each retreat of the sea, the Paradox Basin, as it is called, became devoid of fresh sea water, allowing the process of evaporation to dominate which resulted in widespread precipitation of chloride minerals. This retreat/inflow cycle is known to have occurred a minimum of 29 times, with each marked by a specific and predictable sequence of sedimentary deposition. This series of depositional cycles is collectively known as the Paradox Formation. Potash is documented to exist in 17 of the 29 cycles, and it is from these formational cycles that commercial production of potash occurs.
The Paradox Formation is bounded above by the Honaker Trail Formation and by the Pinkerton Trail Formation below. Collectively, these three units form the Hermosa Group and provide a comprehensive record of Pennsylvanian deposition within the Paradox Basin. Along the northeastern and eastern margins, the Hermosa Group is undifferentiated due to the considerable amount of uninterrupted alluvial fan and fluvial clastics sourced from the Uncompahgre Highlands.
The majority of the Paradox Basin lies in southeastern Utah and far southwestern Colorado, with minor extents into northwestern New Mexico and northeastern Arizona (Figure 6-1). The elongate, northwest–southeast trending basin is roughly 100 miles wide by 200 miles long and is broadly defined by the lateral extent of the formation for which it is named. The Paradox Basin gradually shallows to the southwest generating thickness patterns for Pennsylvanian sediments that are strongly asymmetric when viewed along a northeast to southwest transect (Figure 6-2). Along the northeast basin margin that abuts the Uncompahgre Highlands, thicknesses can exceed 18,000 ft, with compositions of coarse sandstones and clastic detritus eroded off the adjacent highlands. A short distance southwest, at roughly the basin center, exists the evaporite sequences described above. Continuing southwest, the Basin thins gradually with an increasing prevalence of carbonate rocks indicative of a shallow marine depositional environment.
Exploration of the carbonate sequences mentioned above and their potential as hydrocarbon reservoirs in the southern Paradox Basin, led petroleum geologists to informally subdivide the Paradox Formation into five vertically sequenced zones that include, from bottom to top, the Alkali Gulch, Barker Creek, Akah, Desert Creek, and Ismay zones. The five zones are
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Figure 6-1. Regional Paradox Basin (after Doelling 1985)
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Figure 6-2. Paradox Basin Cross Section (after Stevenson and Barrs 1986)
defined by marker beds at their top and/or base that, in many instances, correlate well with equivalent beds in the central basin. These shelf carbonate cycles, like their evaporite counterparts to the north, record a regular rise and fall of sea levels. Similarities beyond the shared marker beds are few; nevertheless, many of the designated zones and their given name may be used when grouping evaporite cycles. Figure 6-3 illustrates how the depositional cycles identified by Hite (1960) correlate with the five named zones.
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Figure 6-3. Evaporite Cycles, 29 Cycles, 5 Zones (after Hite 1960)
6.2Local Geology
Locally, the documented stratigraphy ranges from Paleoproterozoic (2,500–1,500 mega annum [Ma]) igneous and metamorphic rocks to the surficial Mesozoic Era sedimentary units which form the majestic arches and monoliths commonly associated with nearby national parks. The following section describes this stratigraphic succession, beginning with the deepest occurring units and ascending through to those exposed at the surface.
The oldest, and deepest, rock unit within the Intrepid lease boundary is often referred to as the ‘Precambrian Basement Complex.’ This unit is Early- to Mid-Proterozoic in age and likely composed of biotite-quartz monzonite, a feldspathic gneiss and/or schist, or a related variety of coarse granitic rock based on surface outcrops to the east and through deep drillholes
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located within the Paradox Basin (Joesting et al. 1966). Resting unconformably upon the Precambrian Basement is a series of Cambrian and Devonian sedimentary and meta-sedimentary units with an aggregate thickness ranging from 1,100 to 1,800 ft. These are, from oldest to youngest, the Tintic Quartzite, the Ophir Formation, the Maxfield Limestone, the Lynch Dolomite, and the Ignacio Quartzite. Next, the Mississippian Leadville Limestone ranges in thickness from 500 to 700 ft. The upper surface of Mississippian strata was exposed for a considerable time prior to further deposition and is therefore marked by substantial karstic erosional features. The subsequent Pennsylvanian Era was ushered in by deposition of the widespread Molas Formation. When present, the Molas Formation is composed of limestone, shale, dolomite, and sandstone that ranges in thickness from 0 to 150 ft.
Continuing up through the sequence, the Pennsylvanian Pinkerton Trail consists of varied rock types, but is dominated by gray, fossiliferous limestone, and gray-black, marine shales with a thickness up to 200 ft. Analysis of drill core recovered from the central Paradox Basin indicate the uppermost part of the Pinkerton Trail contains several thick beds composed of anhydrite. In terms of deposition, these beds are an indicator of increasing aridity and pose as a chronological precursor to the evaporitic deposits of the overlying Paradox Formation. Stratigraphically, the anhydrite beds serve as useful geologic markers for delineating formation boundaries.
Resting conformably upon the Pinkerton Trail is the unit of economic interest, the Paradox Formation. The depositional thickness of the Paradox exceeds 7,000 ft in the center of the Lisbon Valley anticline (Hite 1978) and gradually thins toward the west where it either pinches out entirely or interfingers with shallow-marine carbonate sequences of chronological equivalency. The Paradox Formation records multiple depositional cycles driven by climatic oscillations and their coincident sea level fluctuations throughout the middle Pennsylvanian Era. As large glacial events began in the polar regions, global sea levels fell, thereby restricting the flow of fresh sea water into the Paradox Basin from the open sea to the west. It was during these periods that evaporation dominated, resulting in prolific precipitation of evaporite minerals. Following each glacial maximum, as temperatures and sea levels rose, the isolated brines of the Paradox Basin were inundated with fresh sea water. These interglacial periods are marked by deposition of organic-rich black shale.
The late-Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation conformably overlies the Paradox Formation and is the uppermost member of the Hermosa Group. Like the Pinkerton Trail, the Honaker Trail primarily consists of marine carbonates and shale, with the added presence of fluvial and eolian sandstones. Within the Intrepid lease boundary, the Honaker Trail-Paradox contact is placed at the top of the uppermost halite bed of the Paradox Formation. The Honaker Trail is further differentiated from the Paradox Formation by the generally recognized color differences between the red-, brown-, and buff-colored strata of the Honaker Trail and the predominantly gray, black, and occasional orange of the Paradox. The upper Honaker Trail marks the filling of the structural Paradox Basin. By the late-Pennsylvanian Age, an uninterrupted, low-relief slope extended from the topographic high of the Uncompahgre Highlands westward to the seashore in central Utah. In the central basin, the Honaker Trail has an average thickness of 0–5,000 ft.
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Continuing up sequence, the Late Pennsylvanian-Permian Cutler Formation is predominantly composed of arkosic sandstones and conglomerates. Because the source of clastic material continued from the Uncompahgre Highlands throughout the Permian, the Cutler exhibits a general fining-westward of clast and grain size as distance from the highlands increases. As was true with the Pennsylvanian Hermosa Group, the depositional zone immediately adjacent to the Uncompahgre Highlands accumulated a thick homogeneous succession of coarse conglomerates and sandstones, leading the Cutler Formation in this area to be termed undifferentiated. However, with added westward distance from the high-relief source area, the Cutler becomes easily subdivided and is then referred to as the Cutler Group. Within the Intrepid lease boundary, the Cutler Group usually contains, in ascending order, the Lower Cutler Beds, the Cedar Mesa Sandstone, the Organ Rock Formation, and the White Rim Sandstone. Typical thickness of the Cutler Group in this area ranges from 0 to 8,000 ft.
Continuing up sequence, the brown to deeply reddish-colored Moenkopi and Chinle Formations of Triassic age are largely composed of mudstones, siltstones, and sandstones. The early-Jurassic Wingate Sandstone is a prominent cliff-forming unit whose large-scale cross-bedding marks a period of eolian deposition. The Wingate is capped by the Kayenta Sandstone, a ledge and bench-forming unit deposited by fluvial processes. The mid-Jurassic Navajo Sandstone marks yet another eolian period of deposition and may be up to 740 ft thick. The Navajo is bounded above by the San Rafael Group, which may or may not contain its basal Dewey Bridge Member. The Dewey Bridge Member, if present, is overlain by the reddish-orange Entrada Sandstone. Within the Intrepid lease boundary, one is not likely to encounter competent layers younger than the Entrada Sandstone, however, isolated occurrences of the late-Jurassic Morrison Formation may be found.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of local geology is the degree of structural deformation caused by the buoyancy of Paradox Formation salts. Soon after the thick evaporite sequences were deposited, the increasing load of overlying sediments caused lateral and vertical migration of the lower density salt bodies. Local upward movement predominantly occurred along elongate, northwest-trending zones resulting in large anticlines cored by rising salt. Vertical extension of overlying strata along the limbs of some anticlines has resulted in normal faulting and fault block rotation, as well as extremely high-angle bedding, and in some instances, overturned beds.
The soluble nature of the rising salt makes it particularly susceptible to dissolution by groundwater, which eventually leads to the collapse of overlying sedimentary layers. The Cane Creek anticline, which dominates the landscape of Intrepid-Moab’s property, is one such structure.
6.3Property Geology
Intrepid-Moab’s mine operation boundary includes 7,656 acres straddling the Cane Creek anticline and is centered roughly 5 miles southwest of the town of Moab, Utah. The Cane Creek anticline is one of a series of northwest-trending anticlines with salt at the core that make up the fold fault belt of the north and northeast part of the Paradox Basin. Intrepid-Moab’s property overlies the Paradox Basin salts, which are up to 7,000 ft thick. The Colorado River
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runs approximately north–south along the eastern property boundary. The Intrepid-Moab property is a high-altitude desert landscape formed of sedimentary rock units, originally deposited in a wide range of environments and processes. Actual elevations range from 3,900 ft to 4,400 ft MSL.
Within the Intrepid lease boundary, the Paradox Formation consists primarily of halite rock with occasional potash salts and smaller amounts of anhydrite, dolomite, silty dolomite, limestone, siltstone, and shale. Hite (1960) identified 29 depositional cycles within the Paradox Formation. A typical evaporite cycle consists of, in ascending order, basal anhydrite, dolomite, carbon-rich black mudstone, dolomite, anhydrite, and finally halite (Figure 6-4). A singular evaporite cycle is often referred to as a ‘bed’ (i.e., there are 29 beds). When potash occurs, it often overlies the halite to form the top of the cycle, or it may be interbedded within the halite. Each cycle is marked, top and bottom, by sharp contacts interpreted as disconformities. The potash-bearing ore, sylvinite, is a mixture of sylvite or potassium chloride (KCl) and halite or sodium chloride (NaCl).
Figure 6-4. Evaporative Cycle (after Fillmore 2010)
6.4Significant Mineralized Zones
Potash is documented to exist in 17 of the 29 evaporite cycles that comprise the Paradox Formation. Of these 17, two are principally targeted by Intrepid for commercial potash production: Bed 5 and Bed 9. Figure 6-5 stratigraphically illustrates the presence of potash beds 5 and 9 when depicted via a gamma-ray log.
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Figure 6-5. Stratigraphic Type Section (from Intrepid 2007)
Based on locally recovered drill core, geophysical logs, and on historical mining data, Bed 5 has an average thickness of 10.24 ft. Average depth to the top of Bed 5 is 3,113 ft and the average K2O grade is 22.98%. Likewise, Bed 9 has an average thickness of 8.1 ft, an average depth of 4,013 ft, and an average K2O grade of 29.75%. Although K2O, or potassium oxide, is not the preferred chemical form used in commercial consumption, potash grades are typically reported as ‘K2O equivalent’ to allow for a standard unit of comparison. In addition, it should be noted that K2O is approximately 83% potassium by weight, whereas KCl is 52% potassium by weight. Thus, KCl provides less potassium than an equal amount of K2O.
6.5Mineral Deposit
Evaporite cycles within the Paradox Formation exhibit a lateral extent of over 11,000 square miles in southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado (Hite 1960). The Pennsylvanian-age Paradox Formation records multiple episodes of evaporitic deposition, predominantly consisting of massive, crystalline halite with economically attractive occurrences of potash. Deposition of the evaporites occurred in a vast, flat basin resulting in each additional layer, or bed, being originally deposited in a horizontally planar orientation. Subsequent deposition of overlying sediments provided enough lithostatic pressure to initiate lateral and vertical migration of the more buoyant salt deposits. In many instances, salt flowed toward linear subsurface structures, such as a fault, and then upward to form what is known as a salt wall. The rising salt typically forms an anticline in overlying strata with surficial expressions of 30 to
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75 miles long and 2 to 4 miles wide (Doelling 1985). This collection of northwest-trending, elongate structures is referred to as the Paradox Basin fold and fault belt. Due to the highly deformed nature of the evaporite deposits, it is not uncommon to encounter very high-angle and even overturned strata in exploratory drillholes. The Intrepid lease area is in the southwestern portion of the fold and fault belt where broad salt anticlines are more common than high-angle salt walls. Local examples of these domal salt-cored anticlines include the Big Flat, Cane Creek, and Lisbon Valley anticlines. Because strata within the Intrepid lease boundary have experienced considerably less movement of salt bodies compared to areas to the northeast, the potash deposits of economic interest are significantly less deformed and therefore more suitable for economic extraction.
Intrepid-Moab commercially produces potash from two zones, referred to as Bed 5 and Bed 9. These beds are part of a thick sequence of evaporite cycles predominantly composed of halite interspersed with sedimentary layers of black shale and anhydrite. Within Beds 5 and 9, the sylvinite is bounded above and below by occurrences of halite. Sylvite and halite are both water-soluble by nature. By using water already saturated with sodium, it is possible to selectively dissolve a greater amount of the potassium chloride ore. The term ‘potash’ is used to describe a number of potassium-bearing compounds. Of these, the mineral sylvite commands the greatest economic interest. Sylvite is commonly found mixed with halite, or sodium-chloride (NaCl), to form the mineral sylvinite. Sylvinite is known to have a K2O content of up to 62% in its purest form.
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7.0Exploration
7.1Exploration Other than Drilling
No exploration other than drilling has taken place.
7.2Drilling Exploration
Exploration information is available from cored holes, drilled holes with geophysical logs, and from the experience gained from mining within Bed 5. The data has been collected over many years, but primarily prior to commencement of underground mining in 1964. The corehole data was collected by Behre Dolbear & Company, Inc. (1961) for the original pre-mining feasibility studies. The original source data, such as assay data sheets, are generally not available. Comprehensive and detailed reports are available and form the basis of this report. Tables 7-1 and 7-2 list the corehole location, elevation, depth intervals, thickness, and grade for holes in Beds 5 and 9, respectively. The locations of the exploration holes are shown on a map in Figure 7-1.
The bed thicknesses listed in Tables 7-1 and 7-2 are from drillholes as reported by Intrepid-Moab, the QP, or referenced sources; mining experience in the underground mine indicates that the seam thickness varies significantly over short distances. In the area of the Cane Creek anticline, the base of the seam is contorted, with areas where overthrusting is evident. In such areas, the apparent bed thickness can be significantly overestimated, and Intrepid-Moab and the QP have used professional judgement to modify those thicknesses. For example, in Cane Creek 14, Bed 9 thickness was estimated to be 40 ft from the gamma log. However, the core assay indicates a thickness of 11.8 ft, but the source assay data are not available. It is possible that the core may have intersected a fault.
Potash is easily identified in the gamma log. In four cases, estimates of bed thickness and potash grade are based on geophysical logs. This reflects the high level of confidence in the logs and is particularly important because it provides a Bed 9 thickness in the area of active solution mining to the north of the data provided by Cane Creek 8 and Well 19. For more detail on estimating grade from gamma logs, see Nelson (2007) and Schlumberger (1989).
No usable exploration data are available from within the Bed 5 old mine workings. The floor structure has been used for flow direction estimation, but no channel sampling or bed thickness data were used. Albertson (1972) lists the grade and bed thicknesses in panels and mains for the old workings. Although data from the recently drilled wells into the old workings of Bed 5 indicate that additional resource could be located at the roof of the old workings, no attempt has been made to estimate this resource.
The QP elected to exclude data from the geophysical logs and data from Government White Cloud 1. This hole is located approximately 4,000 ft north of the north lease boundary and 16,000 ft from the nearest cored hole. Bed 9 is reported to be 13 ft thick, and Bed 5 is 9 ft thick. Data from this hole was not used because it strongly influences the estimates of bed thickness in areas to the north where data are sparse.
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There are a limited number of holes that contain the thickness and grade values outside the property boundary. Such holes are desirable to provide control of grade and thickness beyond the existing data points. Artificial holes, designated Agapito1 through Agapito10, located outside the property boundary, were assigned zero thickness and grade for Beds 5 and 9. These artificial holes do not influence the grade and thickness within the existing drillholes nor influence the reserve within the mine plan. The artificial holes were created to conservatively estimate the resource within the property limits, recognizing that there is no known limit to the extent of Beds 5 and 9.
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Table 7-1. Grade and Thickness Data for Bed 5
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Operator | | Elevation (ft) | Total Depth (ft) | Collar Coordinates | Top (ft) | Base (ft) | Assay Thickness (ft) | K2O Grade (%) | Data Source* |
Well Name | Easting (ft) | Northing (ft) |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 1 | 3,964 | 2,805 | 2,526,652 | 675,049 | 2,678.4 | 2,690.8 | 12.33 | 27.56 | | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 2 | 4,223 | 2,968 | 2,522,913 | 672,932 | 2,764.3 | 2,780.2 | 15.87 | 28.69 | | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 3 | 4,115 | 3,378 | 2,522,011 | 680,646 | 3,244.6 | 3,249.8 | 5.23 | 24.13 | | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 4 | 4,127 | 4,297 | 2,523,864 | 668,532 | 2,658.2 | 2,662.7 | 4.50 | 24.89 | | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 5 | 4,148 | 3,653 | 2,528,066 | 668,040 | 2,617.8 | 2,623.2 | 5.42 | 27.75 | | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 6 | 4,563 | 4,082 | 2,519,798 | 675,445 | 3,175.0 | 3,187.5 | 12.50 | 25.37 | | 2, 3 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 6W | 4,564 | 4,014 | 2,519,798 | 675,445 | 3,207.6 | 3,216.8 | 8.73 | 29.56 | | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 7 | 4,215 | 3,553 | 2,532,098 | 671,106 | 2,715.5 | 2,728.1 | 12.60 | 8.41 | | 3 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 8 | 4,049 | 4,080 | 2,525,307 | 678,492 | 3,140.7 | 3,147.7 | 7.02 | 27.45 | | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 9 | 4,275 | 3,851 | 2,524,410 | 676,115 | 3,044.8 | 3,061.9 | 17.10 | 26.30 | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 10 | 4,239 | 3,719 | 2,525,456 | 672,215 | 2,881.8 | 2,899.0 | 17.23 | 28.00 | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 11-A | 4,571 | 4,314 | 2,517,119 | 680,144 | 3,415.5 | 3,431.4 | 15.89 | 24.04 | | 1, 3 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 12 | 4,412 | 3,996 | 2,516,867 | 677,146 | 3,192.0 | 3,202.0 | 10.00 | 28.76 | | 1, 2 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 13 | 4,342 | 4,025 | 2,519,273 | 670,115 | 3,199.0 | 3,202.0 | 3.00 | 10.00 | 1 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 14 | 4,394 | 4,265 | 2,520,679 | 672,576 | 3,292.8 | 3,303.7 | 10.87 | 27.84 | | 1, 3 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 15 | 4,168 | 3,220 | 2,526,092 | 669,419 | 2,977.5 | 2,987.3 | 9.83 | 27.88 | | 1, 3 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 17 | 4,101 | 3,928 | 2,532,165 | 672,825 | 3,052.8 | 3,060.4 | 7.60 | 19.77 | | 1, 3 |
Texasgulf | Cane Creek 18 | 4,040 | 3,830 | 2,526,389 | 680,533 | 3,542.9 | 3,553.9 | 11.00 | 21.05 | | 3 |
Texasgulf | Federal 1X | 4,196 | 8,005 | 2,528,063 | 671,389 | 2,449.3 | 2,461.3 | 12.00 | 29.22 | | 1, 2 |
Texasgulf | Test Well 17 | 3,991 | 3,533 | 2,528,501 | 678,540 | 3,472.0 | 3,483.0 | 11.00 | 22.00 | 8 |
Texasgulf | Test Well 18 | 4,001 | 3,522 | 2,528,508 | 678,589 | 3,488.0 | 3,498.0 | 10.00 | 21.50 | 8 |
Texasgulf | Well 19 | 3,961 | 4,192 | 2,528,421 | 677,817 | 3,326.0 | 3,336.5 | 10.45 | 19.90 | 7 |
Texasgulf | Well 21 | 3,996 | 3,560 | 2,527,998 | 679,249 | 3,554.5 | 3,560.4 | 5.87 | 12.70 | 4 |
Texasgulf | Well 22 | 4,010 | 3,603 | 2,527,338 | 679,700 | 3,553.3 | 3,574.0 | 20.69 | 20.87 | | 5 |
Texasgulf | Well 23 | 4,011 | 3,842 | 2,527,840 | 680,492 | 3,789.4 | 3,798.0 | 8.51 | 21.65 | | 6 |
Intrepid Mining | 26-30 | 4,549 | 6,530 | 2,519,875 | 675,082 | 3,123.8 | 3,137.7 | 14.10 | 20.96 | | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IM-031 | 4,400 | 4,100 | 2,524,734 | 674,335 | 3,081.5 | 3,090.0 | 8.60 | 28.86 | | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IM-035 | 4,274 | 3,003 | 2,524,657 | 672,216 | 2,851.3 | 2,865.5 | 11.20 | 29.54 | | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-037V | 4,133 | 4,145 | 2,523,134 | 678,195 | 3,045.8 | 3,055.7 | 9.9 | 22.45 | | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-038C | 4,075 | 4,540 | 2,525,432 | 680,580 | | | 0.0 | | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-039H | 4,064 | 8,477 | 2,522,032 | 680,613 | 3,593.2 | 3,601.8 | 8.60 | 8.50 | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-041C | 4,159 | 3,695 | 2,523,054 | 668,790 | 2,765.4 | 2,772.5 | 7.00 | 22.00 | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-042H | 4,133 | 5,218 | 2,523,095 | 678,210 | 3,031.9 | 3,041.2 | 9.30 | 21.50 | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-043C | 4,240 | 3,951 | 2,522,192 | 673,170 | 2,835.8 | 2,847.1 | 11.40 | 20.00 | 9 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-044C | 3,975 | 5,000 | 2,525,903 | 683,564 | 3,823.0 | 3,836.8 | 13.70 | 22.30 | 9 |
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Notes: |
NS = no survey data. |
*Sources: |
1.Behre Dolbear & Co. (1961). |
2.Texasgulf Sulphur Company, Potash Occurrences in the Paradox Basin, K.J. Kutz, June 24, 1966. |
3.Recapitulation sheets submitted to Hugh Harvey from Bob Hite, April 1, 1998. |
4.Texasgulf Chemicals, Geology of Well 21, letter from D.A. Gahr to J.H. Huizingh, October 29, 1982. |
5.Texasgulf Chemicals, Geology of Well 22, letter from D.A. Gahr to J.H. Huizingh, October 29, 1982. |
6.Texasgulf Chemicals, Geology of Well 23, letter from D.A. Gahr to J.H. Huizingh, October 29, 1982. |
7.Texasgulf Chemicals, Cane Creek Solution Mining Hole No. 19, memo from K.J. Kutz to K.O. Linn, September 10, 1979. |
8.Texasgulf Chemicals, Geology of Wells 17 and 18, memo from E.L. Follis to C.H. Huff, August 18, 1976. |
9.Drilled by Intrepid |
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 28 |
Figure 7-1. Plan View of Property Showing Drilling and Sample Locations
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 29 |
Table 7-2. Grade and Thickness Data for Bed 9
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Operator | Well Name | Elevation (ft) | Total Depth (ft) | Collar Coordinates | Top (ft) | Base (ft) | Assay Thickness (ft) | K2O Grade (%) |
Easting (ft) | Northing (ft) |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 9 | 4,275 | 3,851 | 2,524,410 | 676,115 | 4,002.90 | 4,016.00 | 13.0 | 26.50 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 8 | 4,049 | 4,080 | 2,525,307 | 678,492 | 3,945.36 | 3,949.87 | 5.0 | 19.90 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 6 | 4,538 | 4,085 | 2,519,798 | 675,445 | 3,931.70 | 3,941.00 | 8.0 | 26.00 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 5 | 4,148 | 3,653 | 2,528,066 | 668,040 | 3,554.33 | 3,569.75 | 14.9 | 28.00 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 17 | 4,124 | 3,928 | 2,532,165 | 672,825 | 3,901.00 | 3,913.00 | 10.7 | 30.40 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 14 | 4,368 | 4,265 | 2,520,679 | 672,576 | 4,265.00 | 4,273.00 | 11.8 | 33.10 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 12 | 4,412 | 3,996 | 2,516,867 | 677,146 | 3,973.88 | 3,983.60 | 9.7 | 30.80 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 10 | 4,239 | 3,719 | 2,525,456 | 672,215 | 3,696.00 | 3,711.00 | 12.9 | 31.60 |
Texasgulf | Well 19 | 3,961 | 4,192 | 2,528,421 | 677,817 | 4,132.44 | 4,138.50 | 6.0 | 31.60 |
Texasgulf | Federal 1-X | 4,196 | 8,005 | 2,528,063 | 671,389 | 3,302.46 | 3,309.54 | 6.0 | 34.80 |
Utah Southern Oil Company | Frank Shafer 1 | 3,954 | 5,000 | 2,527,349 | 676,033 | 3,763.00 | 3,772.50 | 8.9 | 30.00 |
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 4 | 4,127 | | 2,523,864 | 668,530 | | | 0.0 |
|
Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. | Cane Creek 7 | 4,215 | | 2,532,099 | 671,107 | | | 0.0 |
|
Moab Salt | Well 28 | 4,021 | 6,896 | 2,528,070 | 680,176 | 4,980.00 | 4,998.50 | 6.2 | 37.50 |
Intrepid Mining | 26-30 | 4,549 | 6,530 | 2519875 | 675,082 | 3,958.00 | 3,969.84 | 11.8 | 24.40 |
Intrepid Mining | IM-031 | 4,400 | 4,100 | 2524734 | 674,335 | 3,861.22 | 3,863.06 | 1.8 | 20.02 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-037V | 4,133 | 4,145 | 2523133.6 | 678,195 | 3,886.78 | 3,882.78 | 8.00 | 31.28 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-038C | 4,075 | 4,540 | 2525431.6 | 680,580 | 4,337.30 | 4,345.80 | 8.50 | 30.30 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-043C | 4,240 | 3,951 | 2522192 | 673,170 | 3,700.40 | 3,711.50 | 10.10 | 30.12 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-044C | 3,975 | 5,000 | 2525903 | 683,564 | 4,589.95 | 4,598.46 | 7.00 | 34.60 |
Intrepid Mining | IPI-040H | 4,134 | 6,817 | 2523101 | 678,239 | 4,470.00 | 4,445.01 | 10.20 | 34.26 |
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7.3Characterization of Hydrogeology Data
No hydrogeology data was evaluated.
7.4Characterization of Geotechnical Data
No geotechnical data was evaluated.
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8.0Sample Preparation
Intrepid-Moab has an internal protocol that provides for well-defined, safe practices and uniform guidelines for gamma-ray logging, core handling, and sample collection. The cores are collected and analyzed for ore zone identification. Cores are compared to the gamma-ray log to determine sampling intervals. Duplicate samples are collected with one sample sent to the on-site lab and the other stored with the corresponding core box from which the sample was sourced.
In the qualified person’s opinion, the sample preparation, security, and laboratory analytical procedures are conventional industry practice and are adequate for the reporting of resources and reserves.
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9.0Data Verification
The property is and has been in production for many years which verifies the exploration data.
9.1Data Verification Procedure
Exploration data is used as a guide during the construction of the horizontal caverns by directional drilling. The successful construction and operation of the caverns validates the data.
9.2Limitations on Verification
No limitations on the data verification process.
9.3Adequacy of the Data
It is the opinion of the Qualified Person (QP) that the data is adequate for geologic modeling, mine planning, and production. The successful experience with current and historical production validates the data.
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10.0Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing
Solution mining test work was conducted in the early 1970s. This included test ponds, saturation tests, crystal habitat and product size, soil tests, solar evaporation product flotation testing, KCl–NaCl brine shale reaction test, NaCl face blinding test, and clastic strength test salt (Higgins 1970).
The conclusion from the solution mining test work was that solution mining the Cane Creek Potash deposit was feasible but dependent to a great extent on keeping the injection water out of the overlying salt. The test also concluded that the hard anhydrite layer continuous throughout the formation provides a good stable shield against dissolution of the overlying salt (Higgins 1970). Higgins also concluded that it was highly improbable that fluids would be lost to the formation through open fractures.
Between 1975 and 1982, Texasgulf started extensive work on expanding the potash reserves by drilling vertical holes along the periphery of the old mine workings in Bed 5 to test and gain experience in solution mining and to connect newly created cavities with the old workings to extend the life of the mine (Gruschow 2000).
It is the opinion of the QP that the mineral processing data is adequate for purposes of estimating reserves.
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11.0Mineral Resource Estimates
According to 229.1301 (Item 1301), the following definitions of mineral resource categories are included for reference:
An inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. An inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of geological confidence of all mineral resources, which prevents the application of the modifying factors in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability. An inferred mineral resource, therefore, may not be converted to a mineral reserve.
An indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of adequate geological evidence and sampling. An indicated mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than the level of confidence of a measured mineral resource and may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve. As used in this subpart, the term adequate geological evidence means evidence that is sufficient to establish geological and grade or quality continuity with reasonable certainty.
A measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of conclusive geological evidence and sampling. As used in this subpart, the term conclusive geological evidence means evidence that is sufficient to test and confirm geological and grade or quality continuity.
11.1Key Assumptions, Parameters and Methods
The exploration drillhole and channel sample data were compiled to form the database that serves as the basis for estimating the resources. The geologic setting was evaluated, and zone assignments reviewed. All the core holes used in this resource estimation report both bed thickness and grade values that lie within the mine lease boundary. As an exception to this, the two potash exploration Wells 28 and IPI-037, which report bed thicknesses with no assay data, are included in the resource estimate for thickness modeling.
The rationale for the measured, indicated, and Inferred limits is based on industry practice in the potash industry. Measured resources are within ¼ of a mile (1,320 ft) of a hole, conveying the highest level of confidence. In addition, the indicated resources are selected to be within ¾ of a mile (3,960 ft) of a hole and the inferred resources are selected to be within 1½ miles (7,920 ft) of a hole. Indicated tons exclude measured tons, inferred tons exclude the indicated and measured tons. This convention is considered reasonable for the geologic characteristics of the Cane Creek potash deposit.
The mineral resource for the Cane Creek Mine was estimated using Carlson Software 2020 (Carlson 2020), a commercially available geology and mine modeling software package.
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The resources within the property were segregated in the model into 100-ft by 100-ft blocks. The resource estimates included in this report are based on the 2018 modeling.
A deterministic estimate of the potash mineral resource was made using the inverse distance-squared (ID2) method. Invoking the theory that closer samples should be better predictors than those further away, the method assigns weights to samples inversely proportional to the separation distance between the estimation point and the sample point. The ID2 method is useful for providing unbiased estimates of the overall resources (Society of Mining, Engineering, and Exploration, Inc. [SME] 1990).
The block grade and heights were generated within a 1.9-mile search radius. The 1.9-mile search radius was selected to capture more than one core hole in estimating block values in the areas of interest. The maximum number of drill holes for block estimation was limited to the 20 nearest drill holes. ID2 behaves as an exact interpolator. When calculating a block value, the weights assigned to the data points are fractions, and the sum of all the weights is equal to 1.0. An average unit density of 130 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) was used to convert in-place volume to tons. NaCl (salt) is not reported.
The proportion of the mineral deposit that is considered a resource depends on the following key factors: deposit thickness, deposit grade, and geologic factors. Areas where a bed thickness and potassium oxide (K2O) grade do not meet a 3-ft and 18.95% K2O cutoff are excluded from the resource. The minimum thickness cutoff is used because sufficient recovery in thin beds by selective solution mining has not been demonstrated and because of difficulties in locating/maintaining horizontal holes within the bed. The grade cutoff is used because of the difficulty in selective mining in beds with less than 30% KCl content (18.95% K2O), as described by Taylor et al. (1967).
11.2Mineral Resource Estimate
The gross in-place sylvinite tonnage for each resource block was calculated by multiplying the net area of the block by the thickness of the bed and the density. The Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resource tonnages were estimated within the prescribed radius from the sampling location.
11.2.1Mineral Resource Estimates for Bed 5
The mineral resources for Bed 5 have been estimated using the EOY 2018 geologic model. Measured, Indicated, and Inferred resources were estimated by sampling blocks within a 1,320-ft, 3,960-ft, and 7,920-ft radius of influence (ROI), respectively, from a sample location (drill hole). Grade (% K2O) and thickness block values for the Intrepid-Moab property are presented in Figures 11-1 and 11-2, respectively. The maps show the 100-ft by 100-ft blocks lying both within the area of influence of drill holes containing grade and thickness data and the property boundary. Figure 11-3 shows the Measured, Inferred, and Indicated Mineral Resources for Bed 5. Mineral Resources for Bed 5 are presented exclusive of Reserves in Table 11-1.
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Figure 11-1. Bed 5% K2O Grade Blocks
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Figure 11-2. Bed 5 Thickness Blocks
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Figure 11-3. Mineral Resources for Bed 5
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Table 11-1. Bed 5 Sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 31,2023
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Moab - Bed 5 Sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 31, 2023, based on $450/Product Ton Mine Site |
| Resources | | |
Bed 5 | Sylvinite1 | Grade | Contained K2O | Cutoff2 | Processing Recovery |
| (Mt) | (%K2O) | (Mt) | | (%) |
Measured Mineral Resources | 62 | 24 | 15 | Flooded mine extent | 83 |
Indicated Mineral Resources | 102 | 22 | 23 | Flooded mine extent | 83 |
Measured + Indicated Mineral Resources | 164 | 23 | 38 | | |
Inferred Mineral Resources | 10 | 21 | 2 | Flooded mine extent | 83 |
1Sylvinite is a mixed evaporite containing NaCl and KCl. |
2Solution mining resource cutoff for flooded old working is the mining extents boundary. |
Mineral Resources were prepared by RESPEC, a qualified firm for the estimate and independent of Intrepid Potash, for EOY 2023. |
Mineral Resources are reported exclusive of Mineral Reserves, on a 100% basis. |
Mineral Resources are reported using inverse Distance Squared (ID2) estimation methods. |
Mt = million tons, % = percentage, K2O = potassium oxide |
11.2.2Mineral Resource Estimates for Bed 9
The resource estimate for Bed 9 is based on cored intervals and assay data from 21 holes (19 with grade and thickness). A similar methodology used for the Bed 5 resource estimation was used in the resource estimate for Bed 9. The maps show the 100-ft by 100-ft blocks lying both within the radius of influence of drill holes containing grade and thickness data and the lease boundary. Measured, Indicated, and Inferred resources were estimated by sampling blocks within a 1,320-ft, 3,960-ft and 7,920-ft ROI, respectively, from the drill hole sample point. Bed 9 grade (% K2O) and thickness grids for the property boundary are presented in Figures 11-4 and 11-5, respectively. Figure 11-6 shows ROIs for Measured, Inferred, and Indicated Mineral Resources for Bed 9. Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources for Bed 9 are presented in Table 11-2.
11.3Mineral Resource Summary Bed 5 and Bed 9
Table 11-3 shows the summary of the mineral resources for Beds 5 and 9 for the Cane Creek Mine. Mineral resources are reported exclusive of mineral reserves with an effective date of December 31, 2023.
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Table 11-2. Bed 9 Sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 31, 2023
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Moab - Bed 9 Sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 31, 2023, based on $450/Product Ton Mine Site |
| Resources | | |
Bed 9 | Sylvinite1 | Grade | Contained K2O | Cutoff2 | Processing Recovery |
| (Mt) | (%K2O) | (Mt) | | (%) |
Measured Mineral Resources | 35 | 29 | 10 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
Indicated Mineral Resources | 88 | 27 | 24 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
Measured + Indicated Mineral Resources | 123 | 28 | 34 | | |
Inferred Mineral Resources | 28 | 24 | 7 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
1Sylvinite is a mixed evaporite containing NaCl and KCl. |
2Solution mining resource cutoff for flooded old working is the mining extents boundary. |
Mineral Resources are reported exclusive of Mineral Reserves, on a 100% basis. |
Mineral Resources were prepared by RESPEC, a qualified firm for the estimate and independent of Intrepid Potash, for EOY 2023. |
Mineral Resources are reported using inverse Distance Squared (ID2) estimation methods. |
Mt = million tons, % = percentage, K2O = potassium oxide, ft = feet |
11.4Qualified Persons Opinion – Further Work
No further work is needed to establish the mineral resources. Ongoing extraction from the deposit verifies the resource.
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Figure 11-4. Bed 9 Resource % K2O Grade Blocks
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Figure 11-5. Bed 9 Resource Thickness Blocks
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Figure 11-6. Mineral Resources for Bed 9
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Table 11-3. Sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 31, 2023
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Moab - Sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 31, 2023 based on $450/Product Ton Mine Site |
| Resources | | |
Beds 5 & 9 | Sylvinite1 | Grade | Contained K2O | Cutoff2 | Processing Recovery |
| (Mt) | (%K2O) | (Mt) | | (%) |
Measured Mineral Resources | 97 | 26 | 25 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
Indicated Mineral Resources | 190 | 25 | 47 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
Measured + Indicated Mineral Resources | 287 | 25 | 72 | | |
Inferred Mineral Resources | 38 | 23 | 9 | Minimum of 3-ft and 18.95% K2O | 83 |
1Sylvinite is a mixed evaporite containing NaCl and KCl. Pure KCl equates to 63.17% K2O by mass. |
2Solution mining resource cutoff for flooded old working is the mining extents boundary. |
Mineral Resources were prepared by RESPEC, a qualified firm for the estimate and independent of Intrepid Potash, for EOY 2023. |
Mineral Resources are reported exclusive of Mineral Reserves, on a 100% basis. |
Mt = million tons, % = percentage, K2O = potassium oxide, ft = feet |
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12.0Mineral Reserve Estimates
Mineral reserves that are mined using solution mining methods are not subject to the traditional application of a cutoff grade but instead of operational limitations. According to 17 CFR § 229.1301 (2021), the following definitions are included for reference:
A probable mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of an indicated and, in some cases, a measured mineral resource.
A proven mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured mineral resource. For a proven mineral reserve, the qualified person has a high degree of confidence in the results obtained from the application of the modifying factors and in the estimates of tonnage and grade or quality. A proven mineral reserve can only result from conversion of a measured mineral resource.
12.1Key Assumptions, Parameters, and Methods
By definition, modifying factors are the factors applied to a mine plan for the indicated and measured mineral resources and then evaluated in order to establish the economic viability of mineral reserves. The factors for Intrepid-Moab are solution mining parameters, mineral processing, and lease boundaries as shown in Table 12-1.
Intrepid has a long history of sales and marketing of their products. Sales are managed for all properties through the corporate office. Intrepid provided the historical demand and sales pricing through the statements of earnings (SOE) from 2007 to 2023. Potash market is further discussed in Section 16.
The product sale prices selected for analysis of brine cutoff grade is $360/product ton and a freight cost of $30/product ton. A cost of goods sold was estimated to be $198/t of product with a $28/ton credit for salt sales for an equivalent operating cost of $170/t. Economic modeling indicates brine grade equivalent to the production tonnage just to cover the cash expenses of 3.9% KCl, or in other words break-even.
The reserve estimate is based on a mine plan developed for the Cane Creek Mine. The estimate is based on the geologic model and assigned thicknesses and grades for the flooded old mine workings updip boundary (Bed 5) mapped to the decline curve and individual caverns (Bed 9). The production plan is included in Section 13. The plan is extended for 25 years. During that time, two to three sets of new caverns will need to be constructed.
12.2Mineral Reserves
12.2.1Mineral Reserve Estimates for Bed 5
Neuman (2000) developed the estimated area of reserves that have been depleted through solution mining inside and around the perimeter of the old mine workings, with the
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exception of a large pillar within the perimeter. As such, this perimeter area has been excluded
from the reserve estimates for Bed 5. Reserves were estimated for updip and horizontal areas outside of Neuman’s 2000 perimeter. The mineral reserves were estimated as the difference between the reserves from the resource area and the net KCl tons extracted since 2001.
Though Bed 5 resources can be solution mined with additional horizontal caverns, the reserves estimate in this report only focuses on the net reserves remaining in the old mine as the planned horizontal caverns in Bed 9 are more than enough to support the required mine life for this report. The sylvinite volume, tonnage, KCl grade, and average bed thickness within proven and probable reserve areas are included in Table 12-1.
Table 12-1. Potash Reserves Remaining Updip of Solution Mining from Bed 5 Old Workings effective December 31, 2023
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Moab - Potash Reserves Remaining Updip of Solution Mining from Bed 5 Old Workings effective December 31, 2023, based on $360/Product Ton Mine Site |
| Reserves | | |
Bed 5 | In-Place KCl | In-Situ Grade1 | Product2 | Brine Cutoff Grade3 | Processing Recovery |
| (Mt) | (%K2O) | (Mt) | (%K2O) | (%) |
Proven Mineral Reserves | 0.9 | 25.5 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 83 |
Probable Mineral Reserves | | | | | |
Total Mineral Reserves | 0.9 | 25.5 | 0.6 | | |
1In-situ grade is the amount of K2O in the remaining pillars of the old works and is used to calculate the In-Place KCl. |
2Product tons are calculated by multiplying In-Place KCl by: dissolution factor of 89%, areal recovery of 100%, geologic factor of 94%, plant recovery of 86%, handling loss factor 97.5% and product purity of 104% (1/0.96). |
3Brine cutoff grade is the amount of K2O in the extracted brine necessary to cover the cash costs of production. |
Mineral Reserves were prepared by RESPEC, a qualified firm for the estimate and independent of Intrepid Potash, for EOY 2023. |
Mineral Reserves are reported exclusive of Mineral Resources, on a 100% basis. |
Mt = million tons, % = percentage, K2O = potassium oxide, ft = feet |
The dissolution factor assumes that the concentration of pregnant brine solution remaining in the caverns will be approximately 7.2% KCl by weight, the average historical value for the Bed 5 cavern.
The volume and tonnage of ore as listed in Table 12-3 represents the reserves from the measured and indicated resource area on the horizontal plane and updip areas of the old workings as shown in Figure 12-1.
12.2.2Mineral Reserve Estimates for Bed 9
Figure 12-2 shows the proven and probable reserves for Bed 9 with three existing operating caverns and three additional planned caverns. Table 12-2 presents an estimate of the reserves within the current and future well system area using grade and thickness drillhole data and production to date. No estimate was made of the ore tons, average thickness, and average grade for the previously solution-mined areas from Bed 9, only the equivalent tons of K2O and
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KCl were estimated. To date, about 1,110,000 t of KCl have been mined from Bed 9. The modifying factors required to convert the in-place tons into reserve tons are also listed. These factors are the same as those listed for Bed 5 with the exception of the dissolution factor. The Bed 9 dissolution factor was estimated using a concentration of 7.42% KCl by weight.
Table 12-2. Potash Reserve Estimate for the Current and Planned Bed 9 Well System Area effective December 31, 2023
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Moab - Potash Reserve Estimate for the Current and Planned Bed 9 Well System Area effective December 31, 2023, based on $360/Product Ton Mine Site |
| Reserves | | |
Bed 9 | In-Place KCl | In-Situ Grade1 | Product2 | Brine Cutoff Grade3 | Processing Recovery |
| (Mt) | (%K2O) | (Mt) | (%K2O) | (%) |
Proven Mineral Reserves | 2.3 | 29.7 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 83 |
Probable Mineral Reserves | 0.4 | 28.9 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 83 |
Total Mineral Reserves | 2.7 | 29.6 | 1.9 | | |
1In-situ grade is the amount of K2O in the remaining pillars of the old works and is used to calculate the In-Place KCl. |
2Product tons are calculated by multiplying In-Place KCl by: dissolution factor of 89%, areal recovery of 100%, geologic factor of 94%, plant recovery of 86%, handling losses factor 97.5%, and product purity of 104% (1/0.96). |
3Brine cutoff grade is the amount of K2O in the extracted brine necessary to cover the cash costs of production. |
Mineral Reserves were prepared by RESPEC, a qualified firm for the estimate and independent of Intrepid Potash, for EOY 2023. |
Mineral Reserves are reported exclusive of Mineral Resources, on a 100% basis. |
Mt = million tons, % = percentage, K2O = potassium oxide |
12.3Reserve Summary
The estimated Bed 5 and Bed 9 reserves of the Intrepid-Moab property to be mined using in-situ dissolution are shown in Table 12-3.
12.4Qualified Persons Opinion – Further Work
It is the opinion of the QP that no further work is needed to determine reserves. The mine is currently and has been historically successful at production of potash.
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Figure 12-1. Bed 5 Proven and Probable Reserves
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Figure 12-2. Bed 9 Proven and Probable Reserves
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Table 12-3. Potash Mineral Reserve Estimate effective December 31, 2023
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Moab - Potash Mineral Reserve Estimate effective December 31, 2023, based on $360/Product Ton Mine Site |
| Reserves | | |
Beds 5 and 9 | In-Place KCl | In-Situ Grade1 | Product2 | Brine Cutoff Grade2 | Processing Recovery |
| (Mt) | (%K2O) | (Mt) | (%K2O) | (%) |
Proven Mineral Reserves | 3.1 | 28.3 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 83 |
Probable Mineral Reserves | 0.4 | 28.9 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 83 |
Total Mineral Reserves | 3.5 | 28.4 | 2.6 | | |
1In-situ grade is the amount of K2O in the remaining pillars of the old works and is used to calculate the In-Place KCl. |
2Product tons are calculated by multiplying In-Place KCl by: dissolution factor of 89%, areal recovery of 100%, geologic factor of 94%, plant recovery of 86%, handling loss factor of 97.5%, and product purity of 104% (1/0.96). |
3Brine cutoff grade is the amount of K2O in the extracted brine necessary to cover the cash costs of production. |
Mineral Reserves were prepared by RESPEC, a qualified firm for the estimate and independent of Intrepid Potash, for EOY 2023. |
Mineral Reserves are reported exclusive of Mineral Resources, on a 100% basis. |
Mt = million tons, % = percentage, K2O = potassium oxide |
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13.0Mining Methods
Mining at Intrepid-Moab is by the solution mining technique referred to as “selective solution mining.” Selective solution mining dissolves only the KCl component of the sylvinite and leaves the sodium chloride component underground. Intrepid-Moab employs 60 people.
Brine saturated in NaCl and partially saturated in KCl is injected into either the old mine workings of Bed 5 or the horizontal Bed 9 caverns via injection wells. Brine that is near saturation with KCl (pregnant brine solution) is withdrawn via extraction wells. The old works solution is essentially an underground lake. The horizontal caverns operate under pressure, thus requiring the injection and extraction to take place simultaneously. The pregnant brine solution is piped to shallow evaporation/solar ponds with an aerial expanse of approximately 400 acres.
KCl production is a function of brine grade and the well extraction rate and is limited by the solar ponds’ evaporation rate. Brine grade is a function of retention time within each bed.
13.1Solution Mining Bed 5
The production history for solution mining from the flooded workings in Bed 5 is presented in Figure 13-1. Since 1971, solution mining from Bed 5 has produced approximately 5.5 Mt of KCl.
Figure 13-1. Solution Mining Product Tons of KCl by Bed
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Since 2015, extracted brine from Bed 5 is a mixture of KCl from both beds and therefore, it is not possible to determine exactly how much of each bed’s KCl is being produced. For this estimation, the assumption is made that all injected KCl is extracted on an annual basis. Therefore, Bed 5 KCl production is the difference in KCl extracted from the wells and Bed 9 injection. Extraction brine is currently sourced from seven wells.
Future production plans for the Intrepid-Moab operation include continued production from Bed 5 and Bed 9. In 2023, Bed 5 contributed approximately 6% of the total KCl produced by the Intrepid-Moab operation. Table 13-1 summarizes the net KCl tons sent to the evaporation ponds per year by bed from 2001 to 2023. Detailed allocation of where tons have been recovered within the footprint of the old workings is not possible with the available data.
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Table 13-1. Comparison of Net Extraction KCl Tons for Beds 5 and 9 from 2001 to 2023*
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| | | | | |
Year | Bed 5 (tons) | Bed 9 (tons) | Total Net of KCl (tons) | Production by Bed 5 (%) | Production by Bed 9 (%) |
| | | | | |
2001 | 137,486 | 0 | 137,486 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
2002 | 139,855 | 0 | 139,855 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
2003 | 92,739 | 14,822 | 107,561 | 86.2 | 13.8 |
2004 | 101,873 | 20,061 | 121,934 | 83.5 | 16.5 |
2005 | 69,318 | 19,440 | 88,758 | 78.1 | 21.9 |
2006 | 57,723 | 29,758 | 87,481 | 66.0 | 34.0 |
2007 | 64,590 | 30,259 | 94,849 | 68.1 | 31.9 |
2008 | 63,816 | 28,044 | 91,860 | 69.5 | 30.5 |
2009 | 93,467 | 26,283 | 119,750 | 78.1 | 21.9 |
2010 | 82,125 | 31,139 | 113,264 | 72.5 | 27.5 |
2011 | 77,789 | 29,952 | 107,741 | 72.2 | 27.8 |
2012 | 84,671 | 34,664 | 119,335 | 71.0 | 29.0 |
2013 | 71,255 | 44,802 | 116,057 | 61.4 | 38.6 |
2014 | 43,238 | 70,463 | 113,701 | 38.0 | 62.0 |
2015 | 8,518 | 109,798 | 118,317 | 7.2 | 92.8 |
2016 | 28,488 | 68,883 | 97,371 | 29.3 | 70.7 |
2017 | 68,153 | 79,131 | 147,285 | 46.3 | 53.7 |
2018 | 20,178 | 93,843 | 114,020 | 17.7 | 82.3 |
2019 | 1,866 | 72,884 | 74,750 | 2.5 | 97.5 |
2020 | 56,033 | 84,098 | 140,131 | 40.0 | 60.0 |
2021 | 41,674 | 59,036 | 100,710 | 41.4 | 58.6 |
2022 | 17,681 | 66,114 | 83,794 | 41.6 | 58.4 |
2023 | 19,434 | 75,366 | 94,800 | 5.8 | 94.2 |
| 1,441,970 | 1,088,840 | 2,530,810 |
|
|
*Tonnages from Intrepid-Moab mass balance table. |
Annual tons represent annual evaporation cycle (e.g. 2021 = Sept. 2020 - Aug. 2021) |
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Future recovery of potash from solution mining in the existing Bed 5 cavern is possible from both updip and horizontal locations from the existing mine perimeter and from new Bed 5 horizontal caverns. The estimated solution mine perimeter is shown in Figure 13-2.
13.2Solution Mining Bed 9
Solution mining in Bed 9 began on July 30, 2002, with the drilling of two horizontal wells. An additional well was drilled into this system in 2005. This series of three wells make up Cavern 1. An additional horizontal well was drilled into Cavern 1 in 2012 to stimulate additional production from this cavern. Two new caverns, Caverns 2 and 3, were drilled in 2012–2013 and consist of four wells. Injection into Cavern 2 began in early 2013. Cavern 3 injection began in 2014. Approximately 1.1 M t of KCl have been produced from Bed 9 since 2003. Cavern 4 was drilled in 2023.
The development of horizontal caverns for solution mining in Bed 9 was novel and unprecedented in 2002 in the potash industry when Intrepid-Moab drilled the first wells. The horizontal holes were drilled with the intent of maintaining contact with Bed 9 and developing caverns laterally by selective solution mining. The net KCl tons sent from Bed 9 since 2003 are listed in Table 13-1 and indicate that, on average, 48,000 t of KCl have been extracted per annum. The proportion of tons extracted from Bed 9 is approximately 70% of total extracted tons since 2013. Since 2015, approximately 25% of the extraction from Bed 9 has been injected into the Bed 5 old workings cavern. The estimated solution mine perimeter is shown in Figure 13-2. Additional caverns, 5, 6, 7 and beyond, could be placed in a number of alternative locations as illustrated in Figure 13-2. Mine life is well in excess of 25 years.
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Table 13-2. 25-Year Mine Plan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | R | S | T | U | V | W |
Year | Timing | Brine Extracted (gallons) | Brine Grade (%K2O) | K2O (tons) | Product KCl (tons) | Handling Losses (tons) | MOP (tons) |
2024 | Year 1 | 340,000,000 | 4.5 | 66,900 | 110,600 | 2,800 | 107,800 |
2025 | Year 2 | 340,000,000 | 4.4 | 66,500 | 109,900 | 2,700 | 107,200 |
2026 | Year 3 | 340,000,000 | 4.4 | 65,500 | 108,300 | 2,700 | 105,600 |
2027 | Year 4 | 340,000,000 | 4.3 | 65,000 | 107,400 | 2,700 | 104,700 |
2028 | Year 5 | 340,000,000 | 4.3 | 65,000 | 107,400 | 2,700 | 104,700 |
2029 | Year 6 | 340,000,000 | 4.3 | 64,600 | 106,800 | 2,700 | 104,100 |
2030 | Year 7 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,300 | 104,600 | 2,600 | 102,000 |
2031 | Year 8 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,600 | 105,100 | 2,600 | 102,500 |
2032 | Year 9 | 340,000,000 | 4.0 | 59,800 | 98,800 | 2,500 | 96,300 |
2033 | Year 10 | 340,000,000 | 3.9 | 59,300 | 98,000 | 2,500 | 95,500 |
2034 | Year 11 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 62,400 | 103,100 | 2,600 | 100,500 |
2035 | Year 12 | 340,000,000 | 4.3 | 65,000 | 107,400 | 2,700 | 104,700 |
2036 | Year 13 | 340,000,000 | 4.3 | 65,000 | 107,400 | 2,700 | 104,700 |
2037 | Year 14 | 340,000,000 | 4.3 | 64,600 | 106,800 | 2,700 | 104,100 |
2038 | Year 15 | 340,000,000 | 4.3 | 64,200 | 106,100 | 2,700 | 103,400 |
2039 | Year 16 | 340,000,000 | 4.3 | 64,100 | 106,000 | 2,700 | 103,300 |
2040 | Year 17 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,600 | 105,100 | 2,600 | 102,500 |
2041 | Year 18 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,600 | 105,100 | 2,600 | 102,500 |
2040 | Year 19 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,600 | 105,100 | 2,600 | 102,500 |
2041 | Year 20 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,600 | 105,100 | 2,600 | 102,500 |
2042 | Year 21 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,600 | 105,100 | 2,600 | 102,500 |
2045 | Year 22 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,100 | 104,300 | 2,600 | 101,700 |
2046 | Year 23 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,100 | 104,300 | 2,600 | 101,700 |
2047 | Year 24 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,100 | 104,300 | 2,600 | 101,700 |
2048 | Year 25 | 340,000,000 | 4.2 | 63,100 | 104,300 | 2,600 | 101,700 |
*Numbers rounded for clarity | | | | | |
Extraction brine density - 1.24 | | | | | |
KCl plant recovery - 86% | | | | | |
Product purity - 96% |
Pure KCl equates to 63.17% K2O by mass | | | | |
Handling losses - 2.5% |
T= R*(S/100)*1.24*8.34/2000*0.86 |
U = T/0.6317/0.96 | | | | | | |
V = U*0.025 | | | | | | |
W = U-V | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 56 |
Figure 13-2. Footprint of Underground Workings for 25-Year Plan Bed 5 and Bed 9
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 57 |
14.0Processing and Recovery Methods
Mining by solution methods ends with the delivery of the brine to the evaporation ponds. Mineral processing begins with pond sequencing to enhance crystallization of the potash. The crystals remaining in the ponds after solar evaporation are harvested and processed through the mill where the potash is separated from other salts, then concentrated by flotation. The concentrates are then dried, compacted, and screened into premium grades of white potash. Both potash and salt products are processed at the plant facility at a rate of 400 to 1,200 tons per day (tpd).
The Intrepid-Moab processing plant uses nominally 350M gallons per year of river water to produce 350M gallons per year of NaCl-saturated (21% by weight) evaporation pond feed solution at 6.5–7.5% KCl. The injection liquor typically contains 2% KCl and is near NaCl saturation (21%). The evaporation ponds (Figure 14-1) concentrate and crystallize the brine to produce about 530,000 tpy of crystal at 15% K2O (22%-24% KCl) with the remainder being largely halite. As cavern development progresses, the overall production is projected to stay relatively consistent around 102,800 tpy.
A simplified processing flow diagram is included in Figure 14-2. The pond crystals are mechanically harvested, re-pulped in double-saturated brine, and pumped to the processing facility. The crystals are statically screened with the oversize processed through a crusher. The screened crystal is combined with reagents and fed to flotation cells.
The rougher flotation concentrate is sent to the agitated leach tank. The leached solids are at a product grade of 95.5% KCl with 60.5% K2O. The solids are dried, sampled, and conveyed to storage bins prior to the granulation and sizing circuit.
Dried product material is granulated using a roll compactor and resulting flakes are further reduced in size with a crusher. Product is then sent to the curing dryer and screened before being sent to the final product storage. The product is shipped to market in trucks or rail cars.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 58 |
Figure 14-1. Evaporation Ponds at Intrepid-Moab
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 59 |
Figure 14-2. Intrepid-Moab Process Flow Diagram
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 60 |
15.0Infrastructure
The Intrepid-Moab mine has a robust infrastructure in place. They have adequate water rights on the Colorado River. The mining operation is accessible by a paved county road and accessible by rail. Electric power is fed from local utilities to a recently upgraded substation. The infrastructure layout is shown in Figure 15-1.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 61 |
Figure 15-1. Site Infrastructure Layout
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 62 |
16.0Market Studies
Price projections are based on a combination of historic pricing trends and expectations of future potash consumption and production. Intrepid uses a variety of sources including, but not limited to, industry reports, company announcements, third-party market studies, and internal estimates when establishing a forecasted price. Intrepid compares its historic realized pricing to widely available benchmark prices, specifically the Midwest Warehouse potash price and the U.S. New Orleans Louisiana (“NOLA”) Barge Market potash price, to establish a historic price differential which it uses when analyzing future price expectations.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 63 |
17.0Environmental Studies, Permitting, and Plans
Intrepid-Moab holds numerous environmental and other permits and governmental approvals authorizing the operations at the facility. Operations are subject to permits for, among other things, injection and extraction of salt and brine, discharges of process materials and waste to air and surface water, and injection of brine. Intrepid-Moab is obligated to reclaim and remediate disturbed lands when they cease operations.
The solar ponds are lined to prevent brine from leaking into the ground and the Colorado River. A series of cutoff structures (ditches) have been constructed in drainages to intercept any seepage and return potassium-rich brine to the ponds.
17.1Environmental Studies
Hydrologic modeling was conducted to evaluate the impact of potential releases from the solar ponds to the Colorado River. There is limited vertical permeability across the site. Cutoffs with pumps are in place to limit sediment releases during operation.
17.2Waste and Tailings Disposal, Site Monitoring, and Water Management During and After Mine Closure
The property had legacy NaCl waste stored on site from the previous owner. This NaCl is being removed and replaced back into the underground during the solution mining process. The solution mining process in use at the mine does not generate waste. Regular monitoring is conducted per the permit.
17.3Permitting Status and Reclamation Bonds
The property is in active production and holds all necessary permits. The permits and bond are listed in Table 17-1.
17.3Agreements with Local Individuals
There are no specific agreements with local individuals. Hiring is typically done locally if the expertise is available.
17.4Closure Plans
The closure plan includes plugging and abandoning wells, a disposal well to dispose of brine impacted waters followed by complete structure demolition, salt impacted media treatment, and reseeding. The post-mining site will be returned to pre-mine land use consideration. The final reclaimed site will contain no structural evidence of past mining operations.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 64 |
Table 17-1. Permit Status
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Common Name | Issuing Agency | Permit ID | Effective Date | Expiration Date | Bond Value | Note |
| | | | | | |
Air Permit | Utah Division of Air Quality | Approval Order #: DAQE-AN102510004-13 | 1-Oct-13 | None | | |
UIC Permit | Utah Division of Water Quality | Underground Injection Control Program Permit No.: UTU-19-AP-1C3C2E8 | 6-May-15 | Division to review after 5 years | $ | 2,143,895 | Application for renewal submitted July 6, 2020; application renewed in 2023 and bond value updated. |
Class IIIb Landfill Permit | Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control | Waste Management and Radiation Control Board Permit# 0401R1 | 17-Feb-10 | 21-Jun-2030 | $ | 200,592 | Trust created at US Bank; balance as of 11-Nov-23. |
Radioactive devices | Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control | Radioactive Material License No.: UT 1000019, Amendment #14 | Revised 13-May-2022 | 31-Oct-2029 | | |
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan | Utah Division of Water Quality | General Permit No.: UTR000111 | 1-Jan-23 | 31-Dec-28 | | The renewal process takes place every 5 years. |
Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan | Self-issued | | Amended 1-Jun-16 | Review by Jun 1, 2026 | | Prepared by JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc., March 2010. |
Fugitive Dust Control Plan (FDCP) | Utah Division of Air Quality | | Jan-14 | None | | Intrepid maintains the most up to date FDCP onsite dated 2-Feb-2014. |
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan | Self-issued | | 21-Jan-04 | None | | [Not a permit, IPM is a Very Small Quantity Generator] |
Mine and Reclamation Plan | Utah Division of Oil Gas and Mining | Notice of Intentions to Revise Mining Operations File No.: M/019/005 | 20-Jun-16 | LOM with periodic reviews every 5 years. Next review due 2026. | $ | 7,509,000 | Application for renewal submitted April 30, 2021—awaiting approval |
Stockpile Dam | Utah Division of Water Rights | Emergency Action Plan for Dam ID# UT00438 | 13-Apr-15 | None | | Inspections performed every other year. Revised September 16, 2020, |
| | | | | | |
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 65 |
17.5Adequacy of Current Plans and Compliance
It is the opinion of the QP that the current plans are sufficient, and operations are maintaining compliance.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 66 |
18.0Capital and Operating Costs
18.1Capital Cost Estimate
Future capital outlays will be required to maintain production at the Intrepid-Moab mine. The mine plan provided by Intrepid-Moab indicates that additional horizontal well sets are planned similar to wells drilled in 2013. Future needs call for caverns to be drilled approximately every 10 years. With that timing in mind, one cavern was constructed in 2023. The actual timing for construction of the next caverns depends on the performance of the existing caverns. New cavern capital cost is estimated at $10 Million approximately every 10 years. The reclamation cost is included in year 2048 as $9.6Million.
The evaporative capacity of the ponds and the net concentration of the pregnant brine solution in the ponds limit the production rate from the facility. Future plans call for an average production of 102,800 tpy from Beds 5 and 9 combined, which will not require any evaporative pond expansions.
18.2Operating Cost Estimate
Intrepid-Moab has been providing income statements for review since 2007. These income statements serve as the basis for establishing the operating cost as shown in Table 18-1.
Table 18-1. Unit Operating Cost Estimate
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Cost Category | $/Product Ton | Cost Distribution |
| | |
Labor including Benefits | $68 | 34% |
| | |
Maintenance Supplies | $19 | 10% |
| | |
Operating Supplies including Reagents | $19 | 17% |
| | |
Natural Gas, Electricity, and Fuel | $34 | 10% |
| | |
Leases, Property Tax, Insurance etc. | $29 | 15% |
| | |
Subtotal | $170 | 86% |
| | |
Warehouse and Handling | $11 | 5% |
| | |
Royalties | $17 | 8% |
| | |
Environmental remediation and other non-inventory costs | $1 | 1% |
| | |
| $198 | 100% |
| | |
Less by product revenues | ($26) |
|
| | |
Cost of Goods Sold | $172 |
|
| | |
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 67 |
18.3Accuracy Discussion
Operating costs, including warehouse, handling and royalty expenses are based on historical actual expenses. The operating costs are at an accuracy of at least +/- 15%.
Our capital costs are based on actual bids or recent purchases of capital items plus an inflation factor. The capital costs estimates are at an accuracy of at least +/- 25% and contingency levels are less than 25%.
Our reclamation costs are based on the most recent reclamation bond update and asset retirement obligations and are estimated to be accurate to at least +/- 15%.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 68 |
19.0Economic Analysis
To evaluate the viability of continued mining of the Intrepid–Moab potash reserves, an economic analysis was conducted. Annual revenue and production cost schedules were used to build a projected cash flow to accompany the mine plan. The costs and sales price parameters were assumed to be in constant US dollars.
19.1Key Assumptions, Parameters, and Methods
The property has a long history of operation at this location. The assumption list for the economic analysis is shown in Table 19-1.
Table 19-1. Economic Analysis Assumptions
| | | | | |
| |
Parameter | Assumption |
Potash Sale Price (mine site) | $360/t |
Shipping Potash | $30/t |
Potash Production Target | 102,800 tpy |
Interest Rate | 0–12% APR |
Income Taxes (State and Federal) | 26% |
19.2Economic Analysis
For a property in operation, the economic viability may be implied. The cash flow was developed using the mine plan and is listed in Table 19-2. The after-tax cash flow is listed in Table 19-3. The cashflows are shown graphically in Figures 19-1 and 19-2 for pre- and after-tax, respectively. Annual ore production, ore grade and tons of product produced used in both the pre-tax and after-tax cash flow analyses are taken from the annual life of mine production schedule as shown in Section 13: Mining Methods included in this Technical Report Summary. The annual life of mine production schedule provides the calculation of product tons resulting from tons of ore mined and the associated grade of ore mined.
19.3Sensitivity Analysis
NPV sensitivity analyses were run using variants in commodity price and operating costs for the pre-tax cash flow. The results of the sensitivity analysis are shown graphically in Figures 19-3 and 19-4 for pre- and after-tax, respectively.
19.4Discussion
Economic analysis using the price and cost assumptions shows the operation is expected to continue to be profitable over the reserve life.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 69 |
Table 19-2. Estimated Pre-Tax Cash Flow
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Five-Year Periods |
Item | 2024 - 2028 | 2029 - 2033 | 2034 - 2038 | 2039 - 2043 | 2044 - 2048 |
Tons of product production | 530,000 | 500,400 | 517,400 | 513,300 | 509,300 |
| | | | | |
Potash Sales price per ton mine site | $360 | | $360 | | $360 | | $360 | | $360 | |
Transportation cost per ton | $30 | | $30 | | $30 | | $30 | | $30 | |
Net sales price per ton | $330 | | $330 | | $330 | | $330 | | $330 | |
| | | | | |
Period net revenue | $174,900,000 | | $165,132,000 | | $170,742,000 | | $169,389,000 | | $168,069,000 | |
| | | | | |
Cost per product ton, excluding depreciation | $170 | | $177 | | $173 | | $174 | | $175 | |
Warehouse & Handling per product ton | $11 | | $11 | | $11 | | $11 | | $11 | |
Royalties per product ton | $17 | | $17 | | $17 | | $17 | | $17 | |
Environmental remediation and other non-inventory costs | $1 | | $1 | | $1 | | $1 | | $1 | |
Less byproduct revenues | ($26) | | ($28) | | ($27) | | ($27) | | ($27) | |
Operating costs per production ton, excluding deprecation | $172 | | $178 | | $175 | | $176 | | $177 | |
| | | | | |
Less period operating costs, excluding depreciation | ($91,007,044) | | ($88,941,660) | | ($90,357,060) | | ($90,015,699) | | ($89,682,663) | |
Less period capital | ($28,000,000) | | ($25,000,000) | | ($35,000,000) | | ($25,000,000) | | ($35,000,000) | |
Less period remediation | - | | - | | - | | - | | ($9,648,185) | |
Estimated period pre-tax cashflow | $55,892,956 | | $51,190,340 | | $45,384,940 | | $54,373,301 | | $33,738,152 | |
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 70 |
Table 19-3. Estimated After-Tax Cash Flow
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Five-Year Periods |
Item | 2024 - 2028 | 2029 - 2033 | 2034 - 2038 | 2039 - 2043 | 2044 - 2048 |
Tons of product production | 530,000 | 500,400 | 517,400 | 513,300 | 509,300 |
| | | | | |
Potash Sales price per ton mine site | $360 | | $360 | | $360 | | $360 | | $360 | |
Transportation cost per ton | $30 | | $30 | | $30 | | $30 | | $30 | |
Net sales price per ton | $330 | | $330 | | $330 | | $330 | | $330 | |
| | | | | |
Period net revenue | $174,900,000 | | $165,132,000 | | $170,742,000 | | $169,389,000 | | $168,069,000 | |
| | | | | |
Cost per product ton, excluding depreciation | $170 | | $177 | | $173 | | $174 | | $175 | |
Warehouse & Handling per product ton | $11 | | $11 | | $11 | | $11 | | $11 | |
Royalties per product ton | $17 | | $17 | | $17 | | $17 | | $17 | |
Environmental remediation and other non-inventory costs | $1 | | $1 | | $1 | | $1 | | $1 | |
Depreciation and Depletion | $53 | | $56 | | $54 | | $55 | | $55 | |
Less byproduct revenues | ($26) | | ($28) | | ($27) | | ($27) | | ($27) | |
Total Operating Costs | $225 | | $234 | | $229 | | $230 | | $231 | |
| | | | | |
Total operating costs | ($119,296,522) | | ($117,045,350) | | ($118,460,750) | | ($118,119,389) | | ($117,786,353) | |
| | | | | |
Estimated Pre-tax Income | $55,603,478 | | $48,086,650 | | $52,281,250 | | $51,269,611 | | $50,282,647 | |
| | | | | |
Estimated Taxes at 26% | ($14,456,904) | | ($12,502,529) | | ($13,593,125) | | ($13,330,099) | | ($13,073,488) | |
Estimated After Tax Income | $41,146,574 | | $35,584,121 | | $38,688,125 | | $37,939,512 | | $37,209,158 | |
| | | | | |
Add back Depreciation and Depletion | $28,289,478 | | $28,103,690 | | $28,103,690 | | $28,103,690 | | $28,103,690 | |
Less Capital | ($28,000,000) | | ($25,000,000) | | ($35,000,000) | | ($25,000,000) | | ($35,000,000) | |
Less Remediation | - | | - | | - | | - | | ($9,648,185) | |
After-Tax Cash Flow | $41,436,052 | | $38,687,811 | | $31,791,815 | | $41,043,202 | | $20,664,663 | |
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 71 |
Figure 19-1. Estimated Pre-Tax Cash Flow
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 72 |
Figure 19-2. Estimated After-Tax Cash Flow
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 73 |
Table 19-4. NPV Pre-Tax Estimate
| | | | | |
| |
Interest Rate | NPV |
(% APR) | ($M) |
0 | $241 |
5 | $140 |
8 | $108 |
10 | $93 |
12 | $81 |
Table 19-5. NPV After-Tax Estimate
| | | | | |
| |
Interest Rate | NPV |
(% APR) | ($M) |
0 | $174 |
5 | $102 |
8 | $79 |
10 | $68 |
12 | $59 |
Figure 19-3. Pre-Tax NPV Sensitivities (APR 8%)
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 74 |
Figure 19-4. After-Tax NPV Sensitivity (APR 8%)
| | | | | |
2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 75 |
20.0Adjacent Properties
Adjacent properties are not applicable.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 76 |
21.0Other Relevant Data and Information
No additional data or information is included.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 77 |
22.0Interpretation and Conclusions
The QP’s review and resource and reserve estimations were performed to obtain a reasonable assurance of the estimates from the data provided by Intrepid. Based on the foregoing, the QP believes the findings are reasonable and realistic and have been developed using accepted engineering practices.
As with all geologic estimations, there is a level of risk and uncertainty because of sparse data. These estimates are considered reliable based on the historical success of mining operations recovering potash from this deposit. There is more uncertainty in future mining of the ore zones that have not been historically mined.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 78 |
23.0Recommendations
Geophysical data and regional geology suggest that faulting may occur in Beds 5 and 9 in the vicinity of Cane Creek 14 with an orientation parallel to the Cane Creek anticline. The cavern plan accounts for areas where Bed 9 is expected to have excessive dip, bed undulations, or unfavorable geology. These areas are subject to modification as more geologic data is collected and evaluated.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 79 |
24.0References
Agapito Associates, Inc. (2007a), “2007 Resource and Reserve Estimate for Solution Mine at Cane Creek Mine,” prepared for Intrepid Potash, April 24.
Agapito Associates, Inc. (2007b), “Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Reserves at Intrepid Potash—Moab, LLC,” prepared for Intrepid Potash.
Agapito Associates, Inc. (2010), “Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Potash Reserves at Intrepid PotashMoab, LLC,” prepared for Intrepid Potash, February 4.
Agapito Associates, Inc. (2013), “Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Potash Reserves at Intrepid PotashMoab, LLC,” prepared for Intrepid Potash, February 12.
Agapito Associates, Inc. (2016), “Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Potash Reserves at Intrepid PotashMoab, LLC,” prepared for Intrepid Potash, January 22.
Agapito Associates, Inc. (2019), “2018 Determination of Estimated Proven and Probable Potash Reserves at Intrepid PotashMoab, LLC,” prepared for Intrepid Potash, January 21.,45 pp.
Agapito Associates, Inc., 2021. “Technical Report Summary of Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab,” prepared for Intrepid Potash, February 18, 83 pp.
Agapito Associates, Inc. (2022), “Technical Report Summary of 2021 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab,” prepared for Intrepid Potash, February 23, 64 pp.
Albertson, F. A. (1972), “Special Report on Study of Underground Operations in Solution Mining at Cane Creek Mine,” May.
Behre Dolbear & Company, Inc. (1961), “Estimates—Ore Reserves-Ore Recovery in Mining Development and Mining Plan Underground Capital Requirements and Operating Costs Depreciation on Underground Equipment,” prepared for Texas Gulf Sulphur Company, February.
Carlson Software, Inc. (2015), “Carlson Mining 2015” software package, available at <http://www.carlsonsw.com/>.
CFR (2021), “Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations,” § 229.1301, last amended September 1, available at <eCFR :: 17 CFR Part 229 Subpart 229.1300 -- Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations>
Doelling, H. H. (1985), “Geologic Map of Arches National Park and Vicinity, Grand County, Utah,” Utah Geological Survey, Map 74, scale: 1:50,000.
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2023 Estimated Resources and Reserves at Intrepid Potash-Moab Prepared for Intrepid Potash, Inc. February 14, 2024 | 80 |
Fillmore (2010), “Geological Evolution of the Colorado Plateau of Eastern Utah and Western Colorado, Including the San Juan River, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands, Arches, and the Book Cliffs,” University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, 495 pp.
Gruschow, N. (2000), “Cane Creek Potash Mine, Moab, Horizontal Pilot Test Cavern-Leaching Concept,” prepared for Intrepid Mining, LLC, August.
Higgins, R. S. (1970), “Solution Mining Test Work Report for February 1970,” Memorandum prepared for G.W. Gay, Texas Gulf Sulphur Company, March 19.
Hite, Robert J. (1960), “Stratigraphy of the Saline Facies of the Paradox Member of the Hermosa Formation of Southeastern Utah and Southwestern Colorado,” USGS, September 19, 17 pp.
Hite, Robert J. (1968), “Salt Deposits of the Paradox Basin, Southeast Utah and Southwest Colorado,” The Geological Society of America, Inc., Special Paper 88, USGS, Denver, Colorado.
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Nelson, Philip H. (2007), “Evaluation of Potash Grade with Gamma-ray Logs,” USGS OFR 2007-1292, 14 pp.
Neuman, Tom (2000a), “Perimeter Mining in the Old Mine,” letter from Neuman Consulting to Hugh Harvey of Intrepid Mining, LLC, September 27.
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Taylor, J. B., M. R. Hunter, G. J. Despault and A. H. Agyako (1967), “Selective Extraction of Potassium Chloride from Saskatchewan Sylninite Ore,” The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 45:105–109, April.
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25.0Reliance on Information
The QP relied on information provided by Intrepid and Intrepid-Moab for this reserve evaluation in the legal interpretation of lease agreements and permitting.