EXPLOITING THE DEAD SEA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 14 July 1925, Page 9

EXPLOITING THE DEAD SEA

Tenders have been invited by the Palestine Government for the exploitation of the mineral resource!-! of the Dead Sea, says the Daily Telegraph. One of the greatest mineral assets of Palestine is the salt- of the Dead Sea. The average percentage of salts in the strong brine is at least 25 per cent., of which 54 per cent is sodium chloride, 4 per Cent to' 7 per cent- potassium chloride, and up to 1 per cent or more magnesium bromide. The volume of the Dead Sea is somewhere in the region of 120.000,000,000 cubic metres; lienee the area contains roughly 30,000.000,000 tons of mixed salts, of which possibly 1,500,000,000 tons are potassium chloride. Palestine is thus the richest- country in (lie world for potash resources. These also occur under the most- favourable conditions.

An examination has been made of Dead Sea brine, with special reference to the economical processes of producing potash salts. A detailed survey has also been made of the Dead Sea potash resources, accompanied by experimental work in small salt partsi of the ocean type. A preliminary examination has been completed of phosphate deposits and bituminous limestone; experiment, showing' the possibility of producing quicklime from the fuel content of the latter, and using the residue as a source of fuel. -Also an expert committee, meeting in London, has been examining questions relating to the utilisation of the vast supplies of potash that exists in the Dead Sea.