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Roof Fall Caused by Carnalite at Boulby

Just to show that even modern mining isn’t without its hazards, here’s an image of a roof fall caused by the somewhat unstable (in air) compound Carnalite. A web definition: Carnalite (KMgCl3·6H2O, hydrous magnesium and potassium chloride). Carnalite crystallizes in a rhombic system and has a hardness of 2.5, the same as the finger nail. It usually displays a granular structure. Carnalite can be colourless, pinkish or reddish, always with a vitreous gloss. Carnalite is deliquescent, it dissolves even in the air humidity. Its taste is salty, spicy after the potassium and bitter after the magnesium content. Ian Benson tells us: ”Cleveland Potash did look at the possibility  of mining Carnalite but decided it would prove to difficult and hazardous.” The image is an obvious example of this problem.
Image courtesy of Alan M. Franks and thanks to Ian Benson for the update.

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