PhosCan Chemical Corp. and Baltic Resources Inc. have jointly announced the completion of the independently conducted phosphoric acid tests utilizing concentrate from the Martison Phosphate deposit. The deposit is currently being examined as one of the primary inputs for the development of a vertically integrated phosphoric acid plant to be located near Hearst, Ont.
PhosCan says high quality super phosphoric acid (SPA) and mono ammonium phosphate (MAP) were produced at consultant Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.’s laboratory/pilot plant. The commercial liquid fertilizer 10-34-0 was also produced in the lab with high polyphosphate and low magnesium content.
“This is a significant step forward for the Martison Phosphate Project,” said Stephen Case, PhosCan president. “In May, 2007, we announced the completion of an independent mineral resource estimate, which included measured and indicated resources of 62.2 million mt averaging 23.55 percent P2O5 plus an additional 55.7 million mt of inferred resources averaging 21.87 percent P2O5. The pilot plant technology development carried out by Jacobs Engineering now confirms that these mineral resources are amenable to processing into marketable products which are in high demand in the agricultural fertilizer market.”
PhosCan also said the testing indicated that 11-37-0 and DAP can also be produced from the Martison phosphate rock.
Because of the high quality of the Martison rock concentrate, sulfuric acid consumption was, as expected, 10-15 percent less than typical Florida and North Carolina concentrates, according to PhosCan. In addition, less by-product phosphogypsum was produced, and at an indicated industrial and agronomic quality.
PhosCan noted that MAP is the main solid phosphate product used in the Canadian market, which currently imports over half of its requirements from the US. 10-34-0 is the main liquid phosphate fertilizer used in the upper Midwest US market. SPA, the phosphate raw material for liquid phosphate fertilizer production, is in short supply, with reductions in availability from two SPA production sites in the U.S.
The Martison project is a 50 -50 joint venture between PhosCan and Baltic, with PhosCan acting as the operator of the joint venture.