If you have ever added an all-purpose fertilizer to your garden, chances are it contained potash. The potassium-rich supplement helps plants to absorb water, improving, among other things, their taste, texture and colour. But where exactly does potash come from? The high deserts of Utah is one location rich with the raw material. A manufacturer starts by adding water to the ancient underground deposits which sit thousands of feet below the earth’s surface. This creates a brine which is pumped to the surface and settles in large, rubber-lined drying ponds. As the water evaporates, the potash emerges.
At the start of the procedure, workers add a blue dye to the pond to deepen the brine’s overall colour. This increases the water’s darkness which, in turn, accelerates the evaporation process. During this time the ponds take on an array of colours which are created by different types and concentrations of algae found in the water. As the salinity levels change, so does the colour of these microorganisms, transforming the ponds through a series of gem-like shades of purples, light blues and sea-greens. Toffee-coloured ponds indicate that the procedure is complete, leaving behind the potassium-rich salt. This particular mine produces 700-1000 tons of potash each day. So if you are ever on a flight over Utah keep an eye peeled for this sculptural series of tranquil looking potash ponds and their transfixing surfaces.