Intrepid Potash West Mine, New Mexico

Located a few miles up the road from Mosaic’s massive phosphate mine and plant is Intrepid’s West Mine facility. Intrepid, based in Denver, is the only US company dedicated solely to producing potash in the USA, and produces more than anyone else, from two mines in New Mexico and two in Utah. The West Mine, opened in 1931 by the American Potash Company, was the first potash mine in the region. Over a period of more than 80 years, the West Mine extracted and crushed sylvite rock, which was turned into muriate of potash (the most common form of potash fertilizer). It has two primary vertical shafts connecting to a mining area with around 13 square miles of underground rooms and pillars. Above ground is the plant and a tailings pile covering a square mile. It was owned by the Mississippi Chemical Company when it was purchased by Intrepid in 2004. In 2016, Intrepid placed the facility on care and maintenance status, idling mining indefinitely. The site remains active, providing brine to the oil and gas well stimulation operations in the region, and supporting its new solution mining operation nearby.