Patience Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Patience Lake |
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Potash Corp. Mine at Patience Lake
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 Patience Lake
Location in Saskatchewan
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| Location | Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 52°7′11″N 106°20′37″W / 52.11972°N 106.34361°W |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 1 km (0.62 mi) |
| Surface area | 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
Patience Lake is a lake located in central Saskatchewan, Canada. You can find it just east of the city of Saskatoon. This lake is special because it helps to drain water from higher areas nearby.
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What is Patience Lake?
Patience Lake is a natural body of water in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It's found within the rural area known as Blucher No. 343. The lake acts like a natural drain. It collects groundwater that flows from higher lands to its east and west.
The Potash Mine at Patience Lake
At the southern end of Patience Lake, there's a large mining operation. The Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan runs a special type of mine here. This mine produces a valuable mineral called potash. Each year, the mine makes about 331,000 tonnes of potash.
How Potash is Mined Here
The mine at Patience Lake uses a method called "solution mining." This is different from digging underground. The company pumps water into the ground to dissolve the potash. Then, they pump the liquid mixture back up to the surface.
- From Underground to Solution: The mine actually started as a traditional underground mine. But in 1988, it faced a big problem: flooding. Because of the water, the company had to change how they mined. They switched to the solution mining method, which works well even with water present.
- Brine and Tailings: A part of the lake, about 50 hectares (which is like 123 acres), is separated by a large earth wall. This area is used to hold "brine tailings." Brine is water with a lot of salt dissolved in it. Tailings are the leftover materials from the mining process. This special area also stores a very salty liquid called saturated KCl solution. KCl stands for potassium chloride, which is what potash mainly is.
What is Potash Used For?
Potash is a very important mineral. Most of the potash mined around the world is used as fertilizer. Farmers spread it on their fields to help plants grow stronger and produce more food. It's like giving plants a special vitamin boost! Potash is also used in some industrial products and even in certain medicines.
