If you are thinking of investing in potash this article explains what potash is, the different types of potash available and summarises the agricultural and non-agricultural uses of potash.
What is potash?
Potash is one of the world’s most important minerals. As a key element of fertilisers, along with sodium and phosphorus, potassium is essential to plant growth. Potassium containing fertilisers are collectively known as potash.
It is called potash because, in the 15th century, it was obtained from “pot ashes”. This process involved burning wood, leaching the resultant wood ash with water, and evaporating the solution in large iron pots to leave a white powdery residue containing a mixture of mainly potassium chloride, potassium carbonate, and potassium sulphate.
How common is potash?
Potassium is the seventh most abundant element in the earth’s crust, though as the metal is highly reactive with water, it exists naturally as a salt.
Most potash reserves were deposited in inland oceans which evaporated to leave behind potash ore beds. These were subsequently buried deeply under earth and are now the main sources of mined potash.
While potash is abundant in the earth’s crust, nearly all the world’s potash supply is controlled by thirteen companies in twelve countries.
Types of potash
Potash refers to a group of potassium containing minerals that are used mostly as agricultural fertilisers. Potassium chloride (KCl) is the most common form and occurs naturally as the mineral sylvite, or “Muriate of Potash” (MOP) which also contains around 5% sodium chloride.
Other forms of potash include:
- Potassium sulphate: Sulphate of Potash (SOP)
- Potassium hydroxide
- Potassium carbonate
- Potassium chlorate
- Potassium nitrate
- Potassium permanganate.
What is potash used for?
About 90 to 95% of potash produced globally is used in the agriculture industry as fertiliser. Without potash, it would be difficult, if not impossible to provide enough food for the world’s population.
Other non-agricultural uses of potash include:
- Glass making to produce heat resistant glasses
- Aluminium recycling
- Production of potassium hydroxide
- Oil well drilling
- Electroplating
- Soap manufacture
- Cement
- Brewing
- Production of synthetic rubber
- Water softening
Investing in potash
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