Abstract: Methods for cavern rubblization for enhanced potash recovery are disclosed. In embodiments, such a method includes pressure cycling. The method can include pressurizing a cavity to maximum flow capacity followed by rapid relief of the cavity pressure. In this embodiment, this cycle of pressurization and rapid relief is repeated several times. Other embodiments of cavern rubblization and methods for enhanced potash recovery, a technique of fluid pulsing is used. According to embodiments, a tool can be used to pulse pressure through clay seams to be wetted. According to both embodiments, these methods increase potash recovery during mining.

Abstract: A fertilizer composition including a base fertilizer granule with a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic coating that reduces fertilizer caking and dust formation. The coating can include a roughening component, which creates micron-scale surface roughness, and a hydrophobic coating containing wax. Together, the components of the coating act to physically protect water soluble fertilizers granules from the ingress of moisture and from caking, and increase the resistance of the granules to abrasion.

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 fertilizer composition including a base fertilizer granule with a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic coating that reduces fertilizer caking and dust formation. The coating can include a roughening component, which creates micron-scale surface roughness, and a hydrophobic coating. Together, the components of the coating act to physically protect water soluble fertilizers granules from the ingress of moisture and from caking, and increase the resistance of the granules to abrasion.

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 form 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 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: A mining system with an inertial guidance system configured to enable precise excavation of geological material without a need to advance a survey line over a long distance and/or nonlinear excavation path, thereby maximizing productivity of the mind by minimizing a width of un-mined material necessary for support between adjacent excavation paths and minimizing equipment downtime.

Abstract: Fertilizer granules containing elemental sulfur and a hydrogel which expands or swells in the soil to more readily disperse the elemental sulfur surface throughout the soil, which increases the elemental sulfur surface area available for oxidation, and ultimately uptake of sulfur by the plant. The elemental sulfur and hydrogel can be added to a fertilizer composition as either an exterior coating or co-granulated with the base fertilizer composition.

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 a source of zinc 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 a source of zinc. The process yields a fertilizer product containing micronutrients with superior elemental and granule size distribution without compromising handling or storage qualities.

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 form the brine solution resulting in increased production or recovery within the same cooling footprint.

Abstract: Methods and related systems for conditioning of granular fertilizers post-manufacture to reduce the generation of dust during handling, transport, and storage of the fertilizers, and/or to increase the agricultural benefits of the fertilizer. The method includes introducing a quantity of an aqueous conditioning agent, such as by spraying, to a plurality of fertilizer granules. The aqueous conditioning agent can include one or more beneficial agricultural and/or dedusting additives including one or more acidifying agents, one or more drying agents, one or more herbicides and/or pesticides, one or more chelating agents, one or more biological agents, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A granular fertilizer product having at least two sources of boron having different solubilities to tailor boron availability during the entire growing season of a plant, while reducing the risk of boron toxicity. A first source of boron can include a sodium-based or highly water soluble boron compound such as sodium tetraborate and/or boric acid, while a second source of boron can include a calcium-based boron compound such as colemanite (CaB3O4(OH)3.(H2O)) (e.g. when the carrier fertilizer is N- or K-based) and/or boron phosphate (BPO4) (e.g. when the carrier fertilizer is P-based). The solubility of the first source of boron is higher than the solubility of the second source of boron such that the sources of boron have different release rates into the soil.

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 mining system with an inertial guidance system configured to enable precise excavation of geological material without a need to advance a survey line over a long distance and/or nonlinear excavation path, thereby maximizing productivity of the mind by minimizing a width of un-mined material necessary for support between adjacent excavation paths and minimizing equipment downtime.

Abstract: A granular fertilizer product having at least two sources of boron having different solubilities to tailor boron availability during the entire growing season of a plant, while reducing the risk of boron toxicity. A first source of boron can include a sodium-based or highly water soluble boron compound such as sodium tetraborate and/or boric acid, while a second source of boron can include a calcium-based boron compound such as colemanite (CaB3O4(OH)3.(H2O)) (e.g. when the carrier fertilizer is N- or K-based) and/or boron phosphate (BPO4) (e.g. when the carrier fertilizer is P-based). The solubility of the first source of boron is higher than the solubility of the second source of boron such that the sources of boron have different release rates into the soil.

Abstract: Methods and related systems for conditioning of granular fertilizers post-manufacture to reduce the generation of dust during handling, transport, and storage of the fertilizers, and/or to increase the agricultural benefits of the fertilizer. The method includes introducing a quantity of an aqueous conditioning agent, such as by spraying, to a plurality of fertilizer granules. The aqueous conditioning agent can include one or more beneficial agricultural and/or dedusting additives including one or more acidifying agents, one or more drying agents, one or more herbicides and/or pesticides, one or more chelating agents, one or more biological agents, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Fertilizer granules containing elemental sulfur and a hydrogel which expands or swells in the soil to more readily disperse the elemental sulfur surface throughout the soil, which increases the elemental sulfur surface area available for oxidation, and ultimately uptake of sulfur by the plant. The elemental sulfur and hydrogel can be added to a fertilizer composition as either an exterior coating or co-granulated with the base fertilizer composition.

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.