1000m does appear to be the norm for Sask deposits of potash. Solution mining involves pumping brine water down a shaft, dissolving the potash, pumping out the solution to evaporating ponds where the potash is removed after it percipitates out. It involves heating massive amounts of water which sounds costly to me. I think solution mining is employed if there are water problems or ground problems. So once the reserves are established, the company will have to do a detailed analysis on what method to economically mine the orebody. Would be nice if a natural gas well was nearby!! Sinking a shaft to 1000 meters and having automated continuous miners producing ore is not out of the question because Potash Corp is doing it all over Sask. It is all a matter of profitability.
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