Boulby Mine
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Initially, Cleveland Potash Ltd received planning permission after a thorough public inquiry, allowing for the underground extraction of valuable minerals—potash and salt—across an expansive area of approximately 8,200 hectares, stretching from Brotton into the scenic North York Moors National Park. This pivotal moment paved the way for the establishment of essential infrastructure, including buildings, machinery, and processing plants that support the underground operations. The transformation of Boulby Mine into the facility we recognise today began in 1969 with the construction of two significant mine shafts, marking the start of an innovative journey in mineral extraction that continues to contribute to the region’s economy and industry.
A part of the community for over half a century
In 1968, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) secured planning permission for the mine and commenced operations the following year. Cleveland Potash Ltd operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of ICI. Initially, ICI co-owned the mine with Anglo American, and later with De Beers, until ownership was passed to ICL in 2002. Since then, the Boulby mine has been referred to as ICL UK and has consistently been one of the largest employers in the East Cleveland.
UK’s deepest mine
This impressive mine extends to depths of about 1,500 meters, ranking it the deepest in the UK. Its expansive underground network covers roughly 120 square kilometers, offering a substantial area for the extraction of valuable minerals. Notable among these are polyhalite, a fertiliser rich in sulphur, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as well as rock salt, which is utilised for de-icing and as animal feed.
Research
ICL UK is not solely focused on mining Polysulphate and salt. Over the years, we have sponsored, funded, and hosted a range of PhD theses covering topics like ground surface deformation, excavation stability and design, as well as mining and microbial ecology. Boulby Mine has become a unique case study for research and literature in these fields.
We have conducted extensive observations and research regarding potash mining subsidence, with monitoring information detailed in the annual reports provided by Durham University. Additionally, we host Boulby Underground Laboratory, the UK’s deep underground science facility, managed by Professor Sean Paling and the Science and Technology Facilities Council. This 1,100-meter-deep laboratory offers an exceptional environment free from natural background radiation, enabling a wide variety of low-background particle physics projects, including those seeking to detect Dark Matter. The lab also utilises the unique mine environment to facilitate studies into sustainable energy storage, carbon capture technologies, astrobiology, beyond-Earth habitation, and robotics testing.