Abstract:
As the primary component of global potassium resources, soluble solid potash deposits are jointly controlled by evaporitic environments and tectonic evolution. A systematic review of the genetic types, spatiotemporal distribution, and characteristics of typical global soluble solid potash deposits is conducted. Subsequently, the technical principles, application cases, and suitability conditions of mainstream mining techniques—including the room and pillar method, longwall mining, stress release method, and borehole solution mining—are evaluated in detail. Additionally, a brief overview of other novel or variant approaches (e.g., Shortwall Backfill Mining, SBM) is provided. Previous studies have shown that soluble solid potash deposits are characterized by concentrated regional distribution, interbedding with thick halite layers, and high solubility upon contact with water. Correspondingly, the room and pillar method, renowned for its mature technology and flexible layout, dominates current solid potash mining operations, albeit with limitations such as significant pillar loss and relatively low recovery rates. Longwall mining and its variants have achieved high recovery rates in specific deposits with favorable geological conditions but are constrained by roof stability and high investment costs. The stress release method offers a viable solution for the stable extraction of deep, high−stress soft salt rock potash deposits. Borehole solution mining, meanwhile, provides an effective development pathway for deeply buried, thin−bedded, structurally complex deposits overlain by aquifers. Looking ahead, the constraints of green low−carbon development and the demand for deep mining will drive continuous advancements in high−recovery combined mining techniques and intelligent mining. These progressions are crucial for improving the development and utilization efficiency of solid potash resources and establishing a strategic potassium resource security system in China.