Transient Electromagnetic Soundings at the Taquari-Vassouras Potash Mine (Brazil)

Taquari-Vassouras is an underground potash mine exploiting silvinite ore at a depth of approximately 500 metres. The mining method used is room-and-pillars. Of main concern to the mine operation is the presence of an aquifer zone 50 to 100 metres above the potash zone. The danger of water inflow through fractures could result in safety hazards and large remediation costs for the company Vale do Rio Doce. Fractures may result from the collapse of the salt sequence.