Potash Library Donated to NMBGMR

by George Zamora

SOCORRO, N.M., April 10, 2002 -- Nearly 3,000 volumes of books, periodicals, and technical reports about potash and the potash industry, along with several mineral specimens and core samples, were recently donated by Mississippi Potash, Inc., to the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (Bureau). The Bureau is a research and service division of New Mexico Tech, located in Socorro.

The comprehensive potash library, which will be known as "The Potash Company of American Collection," was transferred to the Bureau last fall from Mississippi Potash's Carlsbad, New Mexico operations.

In 1996, Mississippi Potash acquired the former Eddy Potash mine in Carlsbad. The mine was originally owned and operated by Potash Company of America.

"As a company, we were delighted to donate the Potash Company of America Collection to the university, so that students, faculty, staff, and researchers can make ample use of this valuable resource," says Randy Foote, Mississippi Potash's vice president for operations.

"With the extensive expertise and knowledge of the Bureau's staff, we knew that the collection of materials would be put to great use and that this was the right home for the collection," he relates.

"We're very thankful that these materials will once again be used for their original purpose of research and study," Foote adds. "Current and former employees of our Carlsbad operations will be happy to know the library is being put to good use."

Mississippi Potash is one of the largest producers of potash in the United States and is located in the Permian Potash Basin, which represents about 80 percent of U.S. potash production. The company produces red and white potash in both agricultural and industrial grades with a total annual production of 1.1 million tons.

"We were thrilled with the generous donation of the library and mineral specimens by Mississippi Potash," says Dr. Maureen Wilks, geological librarian for the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. "This collection will add to our resources and help provide students and researchers with the information needed to better understand the potash industry."

The donated potash library collection will be used to upgrade the Bureau's own extensive geologic library.