Abstract: Evaporite mineral solution mining process and apparatus comprising the steps of undercutting a bed or massive deposit by in-air jetting with an aqueous solution followed by solution mining of the mineral above the undercut with monitoring and control to cease the solution mining when the roof rock is adequately exposed to maintain a stable roof and stable pillar support. The resulting cavity exhibits steeply angled, nearly vertical sidewalls, flared upwardly and outwardly only 10.degree. to 15.degree. from the vertical plane normal to the edges of the undercut as compared to 45.degree. typical for morning glory cavities. A first plan vertical production well is drilled with a sump provided substantially adjacent to the floor rock. A second horizontal well is developed up dip to intersect and communicate with the production well. The air jet tool mechanism provides horizontal, slightly upwardly inclined jets (0.degree.-15.degree.

Abstract: Process for disposal of a waste ash by addition thereto of sodium salts, preferably sodium sulfur oxide salt Na.sub.2 SO.sub.x where x is 3 and/or 4, in an amount ranging from 5-85 weight percent (dry basis) and adjusting the water percentage to within the range of 6-35%, preferably 15-28%. The coefficient of permeability of the ash and sodium salt is reduced from 10.sup.2 cm/sec to the "impermeable" standard of 10.sup.-6 and below. The preferred mixes also call for a smectite clay additive present in the range of from 0.1% to 5%. A flocculant in amounts of 0.01% to 1% can be substituted for about 3-5% of the water content. A principal source of the Ma.sub.2 SO.sub.x is sodium FGD waste, preferably from the use of Nahcolite (a natural mineral form of sodium bicarbonate) as an SO.sub.x sorbent in the Nahcolite FGC process. The resulting co-disposal process simultaneously renders the highly soluble Na.sub.2 SO.sub.x (10.sup.

Abstract: Nahcolite solution mining process comprising drilling at least one well into a Nahcolite bed, circulating hot barren aqueous liquor in a cavity in said Nahcolite bed for a time sufficient to produce a pregnant liquor having an increase in the concentration of NaHCO.sub.3 in the range of from about 3 to about 20% while maintaining Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 concentration in the range of about 0.25-4%, preferably less than 2.5%, withdrawing said pregnant liquor, cooling said pregnant liquor to preferentially precipitate NaHCO.sub.3 therefrom and to produce a barren liquor, recovering said NaHCO.sub.3, and reheating and re-injecting said barren liquor in said well. The cavity temperature is maintained below about 250.degree. F. and preferably below about 200.degree. F. The barren liquor is injected at a pressure of below about 150 psig. The pregnant liquor is extracted at a temperature in the range of from about 85.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F., and the cystallization occurs at a temperature of about 25.degree.-120.

Abstract: Process for disposal of fossil fuel ash by addition thereto of sodium salts, preferably sodium sulfur oxide salt Na.sub.2 SO.sub.x where x is 3 and/or 4, in an amount ranging from 5-85 weight percent (dry basis) and adjusting the water percentage to within the range of 6-35%, preferably 15-28%. The coefficient of permeability of the ash and sodium salt is reduced from 10.sup.2 cm/sec to the "impermeable" standard of 10.sup.-6 and below. The preferred mixes also call for a smectite clay additive present in the range of from 0.1% to 5%. A flocculant in amounts of 0.01% to 1% can be substituted for about 3-5% of the water content. A principal source of the Na.sub.2 SO.sub.x is sodium FGD waste, preferably from the use of Nahcolite (a natural mineral form of sodium bicarbonate) as an SO.sub.x sorbent in the Nahcolite FGD process. The resulting co-disposal process simultaneously renders the highly soluble Na.sub.2 SO.sub.x (10.sup.

Abstract: Process for control of SO.sub.x emissions from copper smelter operations involving pyrometallurgical reduction of copper ores to elemental copper in which the gases from reverberatory furnaces, roasters, and/or converters are scrubbed with a sodium alkali sorbent to produce sodium sulfate and sulfite wastes. The cleaned flue gases are exhausted to the atmosphere. The waste sodium sulfate/sulfite material is then reacted with excess acid from the smelter acid plant and ferrous ion-rich barren solution from the associated cement copper operations to produce co-precipitated double salts of sodium ferric hydroxy-disulfates and/or sulfites (SFH), having low water solubility and being suitable for landfill type disposal without posing serious water pollution problems. This disposes of the sodium sulfite/sulfate waste materials from the air pollution control process and also strips the barren solution of iron prior to its recycle to heap or dump leaching operations.

Abstract: Process for insolubilizing water soluble wastes from alkaline sodium or ammonium type sulfur dioxide control systems used in conjunction with industrial or power plants. The sodium or ammonium sulfite or sulfate wastes are reacted in solution with ferric ions and sulfuric acid to produce an insoluble basic, hydrous or anhydrous, sodium and/or ammonium hydroxy ferric sulfate or sulfite compounds of the generic type M.sub.v (Na, NH.sub.4).sub.w Fe.sub.x (SO.sub.u).sub.y (OH.sub.z)nH.sub.2 O, wherein M is selected from an alkali metal other than sodium, or an authigenic metal or other cation present in industrial or power plant wastes, v is selected from zero to six, w is selected from zero to five, x is selected from zero to six, y is selected from one to five, u is 3 and/or 4, z is selected from zero to 12, and n is selected from zero to 20. Principal end product compounds include Natrojarosite, Ammoniojarosite, Metasideronatrite, Sideronatrite, Depegite, Rosarite, Iriite, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Froth Flotation method of separation of sodium compounds, principally nahcolite, dawsonite, trona, related authigenic sodium ores, and corresponding sodium compounds including sodium carbonate and sodium bicarboate, from kerogen-type organics-containing rock, by use of sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate-containing brines having a basic pH ranging above about 7.0, preferably 8.0 - 12.0, and recovering a sodium compounds-rich fraction as a non-float portion, and an organics-rich fraction as a float portion. Frothers, froth control agents and collection agents may be used separately or in combination. Single or multiple-stage flotation, with cleaning, conditioning, scavenging, reflotation, and combining of products may be used. Feed ore and products may be screened to upgrade the head or product assay. By this method, raw or retorted oil shale may be separated from sodium minerals or compounds contained therein.

Abstract: Method for disposal of water soluble sodium sulfur oxide-containing wastes resulting from industrial processes producing fly and/or bottom ash from fossil fuel utilization and waste or excess sodium sulfur oxide compounds, particularly disposal of sodium sulfite and/or sodium sulfate resulting from wet or dry sodium alkali scrubbing of tail or flue gases to reduce SO.sub.x emissions therefrom as from smelters, power plants, paper plants, glass plants and industrial boiler operations. Process involves mixing sodium sulfur oxide wastes with an alumina and silica-containing fly ash and/or bottom ash, forming an agglomerate, such as a pellet or briquette, and sintering in the range of about (1000.degree.-2300.degree.F). The resultant sintered particle shows lower solubility than the current standard of calcium sulfate, being 10.sup..sup.-2 to 10.sup..sup.-4 as soluble as the starting sodium sulfur oxides, has increased density (as high as 2.