Abstract: Methods and system for increasing the water solubility and availability of zinc in granular fertilizers using acid treatments. The treatment of granular fertilizers with an acidic solution increases an amount of water-soluble zinc, which in turn, increases the efficiency of zinc uptake and reduces the costs and equipment otherwise needed to mitigate zinc deficiencies.

Abstract: A granulated phosphate composition that provides sufficient nutritional value as well as enhanced bioavailability of organic phosphorous present in a main feed ingredient. The granulated phosphate composition includes a phosphate source, such as monocalcium phosphate, mono-dicalcium phosphate, or dicalcium phosphate, and one or more feed enzymes such as phytase. When the phosphate composition is compounded and pelleted with a main feed ingredient into a feed pellet, and consumed by a non-ruminant, the phytase component of the phosphate composition liberates otherwise unavailable phosphorous present in the main feed ingredient.

Abstract: A cooling pond system and related methods of improving cooling performance in a cooling pond system using one or more submerged dams to increase cooling performance within the cooling pond system, and increase salt precipitation or recovery. The inclusion of one or more submerged dams within an existing cooling pond system can reduce an outflow temperature by 1-5° F. as compared to the same cooling pond system without any submerged dams. In addition or alternatively, pond depth can be controlled to enhance flow mixing and convection cooling. As the temperature is reduced throughout the cooling pond system, more potassium containing salts are precipitated from the brine solution resulting in increased production or recovery within the same cooling footprint.

Abstract: Injection fluids formed of reverse emulsions and related methods of forming and using reverse emulsions for cavity control in solution mining. The reverse emulsion can reduce the volume of oil required to create an oil pad at the roof of a solution mining cavern in order to prevent vertical leaching and cavern collapse. The reverse emulsion can be formed from an emulsifier, a brine solution and oil. The emulsifier concentration can range from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the reverse emulsion. The emulsifier and the oil can be combined to form an oil/emulsifier mixture, wherein the oil/emulsifier mixture is combined with the brine solution to form the reverse emulsion. The oil/emulsifier mixture can be from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the reverse emulsion.

Abstract: A granulated phosphate composition that provides sufficient nutritional value as well as enhanced bioavailability of organic phosphorous present in a main feed ingredient. The granulated phosphate composition includes a phosphate source, such as monocalcium phosphate, mono-dicalcium phosphate, or dicalcium phosphate, and one or more feed enzymes such as phytase. When the phosphate composition is compounded and pelleted with a main feed ingredient into a feed pellet, and consumed by a non-ruminant, the phytase component of the phosphate composition liberates otherwise unavailable phosphorous present in the main feed ingredient.

Abstract: A biological-laden dry fertilizer includes a dry fertilizer granule and a coating inoculated with a biological agent and applied to the dry fertilizer granule. The biological coating is a solution or suspension comprising water or oil and at least one biological agent, or an emulsion of an oil and a solution or suspension comprising water and at least one biological agent. The at least one biological agent is a biological chemical, plant extract, microbial agent, and/or a living organism.

Abstract: Phosphatic clays, and the use of phosphatic clays as a soil wetting agent. Phosphatic clays as wetting agents aid in the retention of water in sandy soil, and/or for prevention or reduction of leaching of nutrients. Due to its unique mineralogy, rheology, particle size and shape, phosphatic clay exhibits high water absorbing and retaining qualities as compared to other clay varieties. Further, phosphatic clay is readily available as a by-product of mining of phosphatic ore. The phosphatic clay wetting agents increases the effectiveness of the water applied to the soil, thereby reducing the amount of run-off, and reducing the amount of water needed to accomplish sufficient irrigation. The phosphatic clay wetting agents can be delivered to the soil as a sprinkle-on product, granule product, spray-on product, soil amendment, fertilizer or seed coating, or fertilizer composition.

Abstract: An oil-based coating for fertilizer granules impregnated with a polymer additive and related methods of applying the oil-based coating. The polymer additive can comprise homopolymers, copolymers, or combinations thereof, including polyethylene homopolymers. The polymer additive increases the viscosity of the oil-based coating, thereby increasing the duration for which the coating is capable of controlling or inhibiting the formation of dust particulates from the fertilizer granules.

Abstract: A granular cohered MOP fertilizer having one or more micronutrients, and one or more binding ingredients. The fertilizer is prepared by compacting MOP feed material with one or more micronutrients and one or more optional binders to form a cohered MOP composition. The cohered MOP composition is then further processed, such as by crushing and sizing, to form a cohered granular MOP product containing micronutrients. The process yields a fertilizer product containing micronutrients with superior elemental and granule size distribution without comprising handling or storage qualities.

Abstract: A fertilizer composition including a base fertilizer granule with a barrier coating and one or more micronutrients. The base fertilizer material is coated with a barrier coating, and then a coating of one or more micronutrients. Alternatively, the base fertilizer material is coated with a barrier coating having discrete particles of micronutrients dispersed throughout. The barrier coating acts to physically and chemically isolate the micronutrient particles from the underlying fertilizer composition such that more of the micronutrient is available to the soil solution, and ultimately to the root zone of the plant.

Abstract: A method of producing a granulated and compacted fertilizer having incorporated micronutrients in which the granulated primary nutrient and micronutrients are mixed at smaller particle sizes before being compacted into a larger, easier to handle particle sizes.

Abstract: Phosphatic clays, and the use of phosphatic clays as a soil wetting agent. Phosphatic clays as wetting agents aid in the retention of water in sandy soil, and/or for prevention or reduction of leaching of nutrients. Due to its unique particle size and shape, phosphatic clay exhibits high water absorbing and retaining qualities. Further, phosphatic clay is readily available as a by-product of mining of phosphatic ore. The phosphatic clay wetting agents increases the effectiveness of the water applied to the soil, thereby reducing the amount of run-off, and reducing the amount of water needed to accomplish sufficient irrigation. The phosphatic clay wetting agents can be delivered to the soil as a sprinkle-on product, spray-on product, soil amendment, fertilizer or seed coating, or fertilizer composition.

Abstract: A device and method for stamping or extruding molten glass sheet material into discrete glass parts defined by the shape of a metal or ceramic die may use force applied through one or more metal or ceramic punches to form precisely shaped glass parts. A molten glass sheet material may be positioned over the die and under the punches for processing. The molten glass material may be pushed through the die using, for example, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and/or manual force to create a shearing action. The resulting glass part(s) may be subsequently moved to an annealing leer for controlled cooling while the residual sheet material may be gathered for recycling. Parts created with this method may be arranged into assemblies to combine colors for decorative effect, and reheated to unify them into a single solid piece comprised of an assembly of formerly discrete glass parts.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for the production of compacted granular potassium chloride with improved handling qualities. A binding ingredient such as sodium hexametaphosphate is blended with the potassium chloride feed material in advance of compaction. The product of this apparatus and method has improved handling, storage, strength and other qualities over compacted granular potassium produced using prior art methods.

Abstract: A flooded bin measurement system is provided that includes a submarine sampler for ascending and descending within a liquid of a bin and for measuring the depth of fluid at the submarine sampler's location. In one embodiment, the submarine sampler may ascend and descend along a vertical guide based on adjustments to it buoyancy compared with the liquid in the bin, which may be controlled manually and/or automatically. The measurement system may include a bubbler system for measuring hydrostatic pressure at the submarine sampler for determining its depth within the fluid of the bin. The submarine sampler may include a device having a hollow interior, an open bottom and an air supply line connected to the hollow interior. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the submarine sampler may be fixed to a line that is connected to a counterweight at its opposite end.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one embodiment, a detector for a miner comprising a gamma sensing element and a light sensing element coupled to the gamma sensing element. According to the embodiment, the detector is mounted on a rotary cutter of a boring-type continuous miner such that the gamma sensing element has a view of a geologic formation being mined. A mining control system is also provided, comprising a miner having at least two rotary cutters and a gamma detector on each of the at least two rotary cutters for receiving gamma emissions from a geologic formation. The mining control system also provides an accelerometer and a rate gyro, wherein the accelerometer and the rate gyro correlate the received gamma emissions with positions of the at least two rotary cutters, and a central module that utilizes the correlated readings to determine whether the cutters should be moved.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a mineral from a slurry of mineral and impurities, including a fluid vessel having a first, open end and a second end and a feed well disposed near the first end. The feed well has a first, open end, for receiving the slurry, and a second end. At least one first member is received through the first ends of the vessel and the feed well for providing aerated water, creating a froth in the feed well including substantially the mineral. The mineral froth substantially separates from the impurities and floats out of the feed well towards the first end of the vessel, and a collection unit receives the mineral froth. The impurities and any remaining mineral fall toward the second end of the vessel. A measurement unit is placed within the vessel for measuring at least one of density and pressure of the fluid in the vessel.

Abstract: According to a method of producing a phosphate fertilizer, a first portion of the phosphate is produced in a pipe cross reactor, and a second portion of the phosphate is produced in a pre-neutralizer. Both the first and second portions of the phosphate are supplied to a granulator. Ammonia is added to the granulator to react with the first and second portions of the phosphate. To produce the first portion of the phosphate, a micronutrient is added to phosphoric acid to produce an enriched acid, and the enriched acid and ammonia are added to the pipe cross reactor where they are allowed to react to produce ammonium phosphate.

Abstract: A flooded bin measurement system is provided that includes a submarine sampler for ascending and descending within a liquid of a bin and for measuring the depth of fluid at the submarine sampler's location. In one embodiment, the submarine sampler may ascend and descend along a vertical guide based on adjustments to it buoyancy compared with the liquid in the bin, which may be controlled manually and/or automatically. The measurement system may include a bubbler system for measuring hydrostatic pressure at the submarine sampler for determining its depth within the fluid of the bin. The submarine sampler may include a device having a hollow interior, an open bottom and an air supply line connected to the hollow interior. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the submarine sampler may be fixed to a line that is connected to a counterweight at its opposite end.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one embodiment, a detector for a miner comprising a gamma sensing element and a light sensing element coupled to the gamma sensing element. According to the embodiment, the detector is mounted on a rotary cutter of a boring-type continuous miner such that the gamma sensing element has a view of a geologic formation being mined. A mining control system is also provided, comprising a miner having at least two rotary cutters and a gamma detector on each of the at least two rotary cutters for receiving gamma emissions from a geologic formation. The mining control system also provides an accelerometer and a rate gyro, wherein the accelerometer and the rate gyro correlate the received gamma emissions with positions of the at least two rotary cutters, and a central module that utilizes the correlated readings to determine whether the cutters should be moved.