Solar Ponding As A Mineral Recovery Step In Solution Mining

The high cost of energy has made many solution mining corporations turn from fuel consuming evaporators to solar energy and solar ponds. The generally held concept of a solar pond is an area enclosed by dikes into which brine is pumped, water evaporated by the sun, and the resulting salts scraped from the bottom of the pond. This paper will show that solar ponding is not simple. It is a science involving six main areas. These areas are (1) land conditions, (2) meteorology, (3) fresh water, (4) accessibility, (5) manpower and (6) mineral resources. Each area is discussed to identify important parameters that must be investigated before the viability of a solar pond complex can be established as a mineral recovery step.