Events

May 22, 2025 – SGS Field Trip – Nutrien Cory Potash Mine Tour

During our tour of the Nutrien Cory Potash Mine, located to the West of Saskatoon, fifteen Saskatchewan Geological Society member participants were given an in-depth look at one of Saskatchewan’s most significant mining operations.

The facility, which accesses potash deposits formed 400 million years ago, reaches depths of approximately 1,000 metres underground, where the temperature remains a constant 27°C year-round. At the rock face, boring machines are used to cut through the potash-bearing rock. The extracted material undergoes a three-stage milling process—crushing and cleaning, followed by flotation and drying, and finally drying and sizing, where the potash is separated, compacted, and sized to create a uniform product. The finished product is then loaded into railcars and shipped to various distribution facilities. Societal attendees also learned about safety procedures on-site, including the use of Ocenco self-rescuers, which are critical in emergency situations.

The potash seam at Cory is part of the Prairie Evaporite Formation and is approximately 15 metres thick, compared to other sites such as the Lanigan mine, where the seam is only 7 to 10 metres thick. The tour was supported by land geologist Jody Derksch, who provided valuable geological insights into the deposit and mining operations along with the rest of the Nutrien geoscience team. A supplementary YouTube video below offers a visual overview of Nutrien’s potash production process, reinforcing the educational experience.

Nutrien Potash Facility Tour Video
https://youtu.be/OFEECkoCb4w?feature=shared

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to them entire Nutrien team for their time, hospitality, and this incredible opportunity to gain such valuable insight into Saskatchewan’s world-class potash industry. A special and huge thank you also to John Lake for organizing such a world-class event!