View source for Physics:Boulby Mine

{{Short description|Mineral mine in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Infobox mine
| name               = Boulby Mine
| image              = File:Boulby Mine.jpg
| width              = 
| caption            = Surface workings at Boulby Mine
| pushpin_map        = North Yorkshire
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption= Location within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire
| pushpin_image      = 
| pushpin_label      = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|54.5534|-0.8245|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline, title}}
| place              = Loftus, Saltburn-by-the-Sea<ref name="Boulby Mine" />
| subdivision_type   = County
| state/province     = North Yorkshire
| country            = England
| products           = [[Chemistry:Polyhalite|Polyhalite]]<br />Rock salt<br />PotashPluS
| amount             = Polyhalite {{convert|450,000|tonne}}
| financial year     = 2017–18
| type               = Underground
| greatest depth     = {{convert|1,400|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |title=The World's Only Polyhalite Mine {{!}} ICL Boulby |url=http://www.icl-uk.uk/how-deep-is-boulby-mine/ |website=icl-uk.uk |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref>
| discovery year     =
| opening year       = {{Start date|1968}} shaft sinking<br />{{start date|1973}} first shaft production<br />{{start date|1976}} full production
| active years       = <!-- use only if inactive for a period of time-->
| closing year       = <!-- {{End date|df=yes|YYYY}} -->
| owner              = Israel Chemicals
| official website   = {{URL|http://www.icl-uk.uk|Official website}}
| acquisition year   = 
| module             = <!-- or 'embedded' or 'nrhp' -->
}}
<!-- WP:NFCC violation: [[File:Israel Chemicals Ltd Logo.svg|thumb|Logo of Parent company Israel Chemicals]] -->
'''Boulby Mine''' is a {{convert|200|ha|acre|adj=on}} site located just south-east of the village of Boulby, on the north-east coast of the North York Moors in Loftus, North Yorkshire England.<ref name="Boulby Mine">{{Cite web|title=Boulby Mine - Contact Us|url=https://www.icl-uk.uk/contact-us/|access-date=15 September 2020|website=The World's Only Polyhalite Mine {{!}} ICL Boulby|language=en-UK}}</ref> It is run by '''Cleveland Potash Limited''', which is now a subsidiary of Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL).

In early 2016, [[Chemistry:Polyhalite|polyhalite]] mining commenced. Polyhalite is a natural multi-nutrient fertiliser providing a source of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. It is marketed as Polysulphate by ICL and is sold in 3 grades: granular, mini-granular and standard.

As well as producing Polysulphate, a granulated blend of potash and Polysulphate is sold as PotashPluS - part of ICL's wider FertiliserPluS product spectrum.

It originally produced half of the United Kingdom's output of [[Chemistry:Potash|potash]], an agricultural fertiliser. The mined ore consists of 35–45% [[Chemistry:Sylvite|sylvite]] ("potash", specifically potassium chloride) and 45–55% [[Chemistry:Halite|halite]] (rock salt, or sodium chloride).<ref name="DPMG">[http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/boulby/ "Boulby, United Kingdom"], Mining-technology.com, Progressive Digital Media Group PLC. Retrieved 11 November 2014</ref> The rock salt is extracted as a by-product and used across the region as a de-icing agent on roads in winter conditions. Other minerals are produced as waste (gangue) to the main effort, but may be sought after by mineral collectors, such as [[Chemistry:Boracite|boracite]], which occurs just above the beds of potash.<ref>{{cite web |title=Subterranea Britannica: Sites:Boulby Potash Mine |url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/b/boulby_mine/index.shtml |website=www.subbrit.org.uk |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Yorkshire – Steetley Minerals |url=http://www.rock-site.co.uk/cms.php?id_cms=13 |website=www.rock-site.co.uk |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Boracite |url=http://www.poslovni.hr/media/forum-user-upload/files/c0/c07463e141e1bf59a6a48372e419efa5.pdf |website=poslovni.hr |access-date=8 January 2019 |format=PDF }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Milne |first1=John K |last2=Saunders |first2=Michael J |last3=Woods |first3=Peter J E |title=Iron-boracite from the English Zechstein |magazine=Mineralogical Magazine |date=September 1977 |volume=41 |issue=319 |pages=406–406 |publisher=Mineralogical Society |location=London |issn=0026-461X}}</ref>

==History==
In 1939, potash was discovered in the area at Aislaby when prospectors were drilling to look for oil. The reserves were investigated in the 1950s but appeared too deep to exploit economically. Solution mining was considered from 1962, but not pursued.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boulby Potash Mine – a site visit|url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/b/boulby_mine/index.shtml|publisher=Subterranea Britannica|access-date=27 April 2013|first=Paul |last=Sowan}}</ref>

The first shaft was begun in 1968 and Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) began construction on the mine in 1969, with potash from one shaft being produced in 1973. Full production of the mine did not commence until 1976.{{sfn|BGS|2011|p=2}} The mine was the source of all of the UK's home-produced potash – around 55 percent of the total UK market. It occurs between {{convert|1.2|and|1.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}  below ground and has an average seam thickness of {{convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The mine did not achieve profitability until 1984.<ref name=DPMG/>

ICI formed Cleveland Potash Limited jointly with Anglo American, and later sold it to them, which in turn divested it to Israel Chemicals Ltd in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boulby Potash Mine, United Kingdom|url=http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Boulby_780/Boulby_6324.pdf|publisher=mine-explorer.co.uk|access-date=27 April 2013|author=ICL Fertilizers}}</ref>

In April 2011, the mine began the world's first commercial production of [[Chemistry:Polyhalite|polyhalite]], a rare mineral that has been found in large quantities in a seam out to sea from the mine, with total resources estimated at over a billion tonnes lying more than {{convert|1.5|km|order=flip}} offshore. The mineral has a commercial potential as an inorganic fertiliser.<ref>{{cite news|title=A new mineral and new jobs at Boulby mine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2011/apr/12/boulby-polyhalite-cleveland-potash-krebs-dark-matter-otley-kate-middleton-thynghowe|newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|date=12 April 2011|accessdate=4 April 2012}}</ref>

In April 2014, Cleveland Potash was awarded a £4.9&nbsp;million government grant to support the mining of polyhalite at the Boulby site<ref>{{cite news |title=Potash mine given £4.9m cash boost |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-26960911 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=BBC News |date=10 April 2014}}</ref> and parent company Israel Chemicals Ltd has pledged to invest £300&nbsp;million in the area before 2018.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |title=Potash plant to create 270 jobs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-22152699 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=BBC News |date=16 April 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Boracite-131896.jpg|thumb|Gemmy, sharp green-blue boracite crystals from the Boulby Mine. Size: 4.0&nbsp;×&nbsp;2.4&nbsp;×&nbsp;2.0&nbsp;cm]]
Plans include extending the mine to the east and upgrading facilities to increase production capacity. Environmental groups have raised concerns that the development could have an intrusive effect on the local area.<ref name="BBC"/>

The mine had 1,001 employees in 2013<ref name="Investment">{{cite web|url= http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/north-east/125367-cleveland-potash-continues-investment-after-turnover-growth |title=Cleveland Potash Continues Investment After Turnover Growth|date=13 October 2013 |access-date= 18 November 2013}}</ref> and can produce up to one million tonnes of potash each year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Huge grant just the job at Boulby|url=http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/business/huge_grant_just_the_job_at_boulby_1_3294406#|newspaper=Whitby Gazette|date=15 April 2011|accessdate=4 April 2012}}</ref>
At {{convert|1400|m|ft}} deep, it is the second deepest mine of any kind in Europe, and has a network of underground roads extending under the North Sea, totalling {{convert|1000|km|mi}} in length.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22263418 |title=Inside the potash mine one mile under the North Sea |work= BBC News |date= 24 April 2013|accessdate=27 April 2013}}</ref> Due to the mines' depth; it takes workers seven minutes travelling in a lift to reach the bottom of the mine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farmer |first1=Ben |title=Man dies after gas blast at Boulby mine |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/17/man-dies-after-gas-fire-at-boulby-mine/ |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

Cleveland Potash Limited had a reported turnover of £194&nbsp;million in 2013, up from £162&nbsp;million the year before. However, despite the increased turnover, the company suffered a total pre-tax loss of £194&nbsp;million. This was the result of a huge £200&nbsp;million impairment charge arising from a significant fall in potash prices.<ref name="Investment"/> In the 2017–18 financial year, the company made £92&nbsp;million, down from £205&nbsp;million from the previous financial year. During the same period they also incurred losses of £162&nbsp;million due to an investment in ICL Iberia a sister company. Taking into account redundancies, impairment of assets and disposal of unrequired assets, the loss was adjusted to £38&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manning |first1=Jonathon |title=Operators of Boulby Mine suffer £161m loss after traumatic year |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/business/business-news/boulby-mine-makes-168m-loss-14988260 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=Gazette Live |date=3 August 2018}}</ref>

By the end of 2018, the company had 470 employees after a round of job cuts related to the switch from mining potash to polyhalite.<ref>{{cite news |title=PM 'support' pledge for axed potash mine |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-42638801 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=BBC News |date=10 January 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, the company was producing just over {{convert|450,000|tonne}} of polyhalite with ambitions to more than double that amount to over {{convert|1,000,000|tonne}} by 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Breen |first1=Julia |title=Jobs secure as Boulby mine stops potash production after 45 years |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/16409734.jobs-secure-as-boulby-mine-stops-potash-production-after-45-years/ |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=The Northern Echo |date=9 August 2018}}</ref>

==Transport==
Much of the output from the mine is transported by rail, as the site is located south of Loftus along the route of the former WRMU (Whitby Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway), which was closed on 5 May 1958.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bairstow |first1=Martin |title=Railways around Whitby volume 1 |date=2008 |publisher=Martin Bairstow |location=Farsley |isbn=978-1-871944-34-1 |page=111 |edition=3}}</ref> The line remains open from Saltburn to Boulby for goods traffic. Teesport handles most of the bulk cargo export from the mine, via a specific potash and rock salt terminal.{{sfn|BGS|2011|p=6}}

==Underground laboratory==

[[File:No WIMPS here - entrance to Boulby Mine - geograph.org.uk - 1626186.jpg|thumb|Entrance to the mine, with signage for the laboratory]]

Because of its depth, Boulby Mine is the site of the '''Boulby Underground Laboratory''' {{convert|1,100|m|order=flip}} below the surface (2800 metre water equivalent). Part of the laboratory is called '''Palmer Lab''' (subterranean) and the laboratory's surface facilities are sometimes called the '''John Barton surface facility'''.

Work being carried out at the underground laboratory includes the [[Organization:UK Centre for Astrobiology|UK Centre for Astrobiology]] study of [[Earth:Extremophile|extremophile]] organisms that can survive in a salt-rich environment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23522734|title=Boulby mine: Underground life gives alien clues|date=7 August 2013|first=Rebecca |last=Morelle|work=BBC News}}</ref> The site is also used for testing NASA Mars rovers.

In October 2017, the [[Organization:European Space Agency|European Space Agency]] (ESA) sent [[Astronaut|astronaut]] Matthias Maurer as part of the fifth [[Astronomy:Terrestrial analogue sites|Mine Analogue Research]] sortie. It is thought that the brines present in the mine may be able to support extremophiles, and be like similar sites in caves on other planets.<ref name="2017-10-23_MD">[http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Mine_craft_for_Mars_999.html Mine craft for Mars], MarsDaily.com, 23 October 2017</ref>

Extant testing and recording programmes at the laboratory include:<ref>{{cite web |title=Boulby Science Programme |url=https://www.boulby.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/Science-Programme.aspx |website=www.boulby.stfc.ac.uk |access-date=12 July 2021}}</ref>

*  BUGS or BUGs (Boulby Underground Germanium Suite; also used to be called Boulby-Ge): Ultra-low background material screening of germanium for development of [[Astronomy:Dark matter|dark matter]] experiments
*  UltraLO-1800 equipment: For study of radioactivity of the surface layers of materials (surface screening) with aim to aid in development of dark matter experiments
*  SELLR (Subsurface Experiment of Life in Low Radiation): an experiment studying the effect of low-radiation environment to biological systems
*  Deep Carbon, MuScan, Muon-Tides (3 experiments): Muon Tomography
* [[Physics:Directional Recoil Identification from Tracks|DRIFT-II]] (Directional Recoil Identification From Tracks):<ref name=July2016>{{Cite conference |title=Boulby Underground Laboratory: Status and plans |last=Paling |first=Sean |date=21 July 2016 |conference=Identification of Dark Matter 2016 |location=Sheffield |url=https://idm2016.shef.ac.uk/indico/event/0/session/10/contribution/136 |conference-url=https://idm2016.shef.ac.uk/ |access-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821064004/https://idm2016.shef.ac.uk/indico/event/0/session/10/contribution/136 |archive-date=21 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> dark matter experiment. One of the experiments detectors, the DRIFT-IIb, is located at Boulby. A low pressure negative ion [[Physics:Time projection chamber|time projection chamber]] (NITPC) designed to detect [[Physics:Weakly interacting massive particles|weakly interacting massive particles]] (WIMPs, a prime [[Astronomy:Dark matter|dark matter]] candidate), a second detector (DRIFT-IIc) is located on the surface at [[Organization:Occidental College|Occidental College]], Los Angeles, California, USA.<ref name=BoulbyUnderground />
*  BISAL (Boulby International Subsurface Astrobiology Lab): [[Biology:Geomicrobiology|Geomicrobiology]] / Astrobiology studies 
*  MINAR (MINe Analogue Research): Space exploration technology development

There are also concurrent geological and geoscience projects ongoing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meehan |first1=Emma |title=Deep Science at Boulby Underground Laboratory |url=https://conference.ippp.dur.ac.uk/event/555/contributions/3161/attachments/2722/2969/Meehan.pdf |website=conference.ippp.dur.ac.uk |access-date=8 January 2019 |format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gullon |first1=Nick |title=World scientists gather at Boulby mine for science project |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15585187.world-scientists-gather-at-boulby-mine-for-science-project/ |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=The Northern Echo |date=10 October 2017}}</ref>

Previous, now completed experiments include:

*  [[Physics:ZEPLIN-III|ZEPLIN]]: dark matter experiment(s). The final ZEPLIN experiment, ZEPLIN-III finished in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=A path to the stars from deep below Whitby |editor-last=Mitchinson|editor-first=James |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=5 January 2019 |page=9|issn=0963-1496}}</ref>
*  [[Physics:Directional Recoil Identification from Tracks|DRIFT-I]]: dark matter experiment
*  DM-Ice: dark matter experiment
*  ERSaB: [[Physics:Gamma spectroscopy|Environmental gamma spectroscopy]]
*  SKY, SKY ZERO (multiple experiments in the same SKY-experiment series): study if ionisation by cosmic rays induced aerosol nucleation & growth
*  [[Physics:UK Dark Matter Collaboration|UK Dark Matter Collaboration]]:<ref name=BoulbyUnderground>{{cite web|title=Boulby Underground Laboratory|url=http://www.stfc.ac.uk/Boulby/default.aspx|publisher=Science & Technology Facilities Council|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016030520/http://www.stfc.ac.uk/Boulby/Default.aspx|archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> dark matter experiment
*  NAIAD: dark matter experiment

Proposed experiments (as of 2019) include the WATCHMAN (WATer CHerenkov Monitoring of ANtineutrinos, also called AIT/WATCHMAN) neutrino experiment, which would study antineutrinos originating from Hartlepool nuclear power plant. This project would aim to develop technologies to remotely monitor nuclear reactors for the purpose of nuclear non-proliferation.

==Health and safety==
Since the year 2000, there have been several incidents at the mine. Cleveland Potash Limited has been served with 11 notices for breaches of health and safety procedures by the [[Organization:Health and Safety Executive|Health and Safety Executive]] since 2012.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Health and Safety Executive|url= http://www.hse.gov.uk/notices/notices/notice_list.asp?PN=1&ST=N&rdoNType=&NT=&SN=F&x=36&EO=LIKE&SF=RN&SV=cleveland+potash&y=13&SO=DNIS |access-date= 18 November 2014|title=Notices found for Cleveland Potash Limited}}</ref>
They include not taking appropriate measures to protect workers from the risks of explosion, falling ground and inadvertent entry into the mine shaft. Other incidents include;

*2001 – an electrician suffered severe burns to his face during routine maintenance work.<ref name="NE"/>
*2003 – a lorry driver was trapped under a vehicle for over an hour whilst working underground.<ref name="NE"/>
*2007 – 24-year-old miner Darren Compton was killed by falling rock. He had been operating equipment supporting a sidewall in a recently mined roadway.<ref name="NE">{{cite news |title=Probe into potash mine tragedy |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1346124.probe_into_potash_mine_tragedy/ |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=The Northern Echo |date=21 April 2007}}</ref>
*2012 – a 50-year-old man suffered chest injuries when a hose burst and forced him against a skip.<ref>{{cite news |title=Worker hurt underground at mine |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-16627511 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=BBC News |date=19 January 2012}}</ref>
*April 2014 – there was a collapse at the mine caused by a falling boulder.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robson |first1=Dave |title=Probe after a 'collapse' deep under Boulby potash mine |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/probe-after-collapse-deep-under-6686166 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=Gazette Live |date=8 February 2014}}</ref>
*June 2014 – an employment tribunal revealed that the Boulby mine would have been unable to cope in an emergency. A former rescue team coordinator, Steve Angus, was fired after failing to ensure enough safety officers were trained to respond. He was also accused of failing to maintain the required standard of breathing apparatus.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sacked Cleveland Potash worker's behaviour 'endangered lives of hundreds', tribunal hears |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/stephen-angus-sacked-cleveland-potash-7215067 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=Gazette Live |date=4 June 2014}}</ref>
*13 April 2016 – Seven workers were hospitalised for smoke inhalation  when polystyrene blocks caught fire {{convert|1,100|m|order=flip}} under the sea and {{convert|5|mi|0}} from land.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fire-hit mine to face no further action |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-41587226 |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=BBC News |date=11 October 2017}}</ref>
*17 June 2016 – a miner, 55-year-old John Anderson, was killed in a "gas blow-out" while working in the mine.<ref>{{cite news |title=Identity of Boulby mine death victim revealed |url=https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2016-06-17/identity-of-boulby-mine-death-victim-revealed/ |access-date=8 January 2019 |work=ITV News |date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
*Winsford – home of Britain's largest rock salt mine
*Woodsmith Mine – a new polyhalite mine under construction just south of Whitby
*Polysulphate – new inorganic fertilizer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite report|author=British Geological Survey|title=Mineral Profiles: Potash|year=2011|format=PDF|publisher=British Geological Survey|location=Keyworth, Nottinghamshire|url=https://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=1367|access-date=8 January 2019|ref={{Harvid|BGS|2011}} }}

==External links==
*[https://www.boulby.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/home.aspx Boulby Underground Laboratory website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmKBVz5WIIM Discovery Channel] video from ''How Do They Do It?''
*[http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Boulby_780/Boulby.asp Boulby Potash Mine NZ761183] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315035537/http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Boulby_780/Boulby.asp |date=15 March 2016 }}, images at UK [[Earth:Mine exploration|mine exploration]] website
*[http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160531-the-mine-that-lies-far-beneath-the-sea BBC video in the mine]


[[Category:Underground laboratories]]

{{Sourceattribution|Boulby Mine}}