DEAD SEA SALTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18258, 29 November 1933, Page 12

DEAD SEA SALTS

GOOD PROFITS MADE POTASH DEPOSITS JERUSALEM, Sept. 28. Confidence in the .future of Palestine Potash, Limited, which holds the concession for the extraction of bromine and potash frm the. Dead -Sea, was shown m the over-subscription both in Palestine and London of the recent issue of £147,000 wortli of shares by the company.

The Dead Sea contains immense quantities of potash and bromine concentrated there from the waters of the Jordan River, which deposits yearly 40,000 tons of potash alone! The source of the potand bromine is largely the hot springs of Gallilee. It is estimated that 50,000 years were required to produce the Lead Sea salts in their present state of .concentration in the brine.

The initial programme of Palestine Potash, Limited, was to prove that potash could be produced on a commercial sefile of 10,0C0 tons annually, and that liquid bromine could be extracted from the .Dead Sea brine in marketable quantities, a programme which' has been more than fulfilled. The company’s bromine factory started production at the beginning of 1931 anfl the potash factory at the end of the same year. The company has been able to disposo of the whole of it? production, and is now engaged in extending its evaporation area and its factories. "Both from its uso in the preparation of chemical compounds and dyes and. in the manufacture of anti-knock benzine, consumption of bromide is said to be increasing steadily. Ultimate production of at least 100,000 tons of potash a year is aimed at, giving Palestine an export. value in this commodity alone of more than £9,000,000. and putting it in the foremost rank of potash and bromine producing countries. British, .Jews and Arabs from all parts of Palestine participated ,in the share issue, and the list of 500 shareholders is fully representative of the three communities, more than 200 Arabs from various parts of Palestine and Transjor. dan being among the subscribers.