Potassium Recovery Rates Improve to 97% from 91% and are Expected to Result in Lower Operating Costs

cnw


TORONTO, May 9 /CNW/ - IC Potash Corp. ("ICP" or the "Company") (TSXV:
ICP) (OTCQX: ICPTF) announced today very positive results of
metallurgical testing focused on increasing the recovery of potassium
sulphate from the polyhalite resource of the Company's flagship Ochoa
project in New Mexico.


Conducted by Hazen Laboratories, one of the world's premier
metallurgical and processing laboratories, the tests obtained 99%
recoveries when using counter-current leaching. The Company estimates
that leaching recoveries of at least 97% will be obtained in an
operating plant environment. Initial test results as announced March
21, 2010 had obtained 91% recovery rates.


"Our latest test results are significant on a number of levels," said
Mr. Randy Foote, Chief Operating Officer. "They clearly demonstrate
that a high recovery of potassium can be obtained through
counter-current leaching. Just as important, because the recovery rate
is higher than we anticipated, we expect our operating costs will be
lower as a result."


Counter-current leaching occurs when fresh ore is leached with
previously produced potassium sulphate solution and previously leached
rock a second time with new water.




Test Results:


More than 80 individual leaching tests were conducted. Parameters that
were studied included dissolution of the calcined ore, dissolution of
side products, identification and quantification of the side products,
ore to water ratios, and the effects of salt (halite) on the
dissolution process and evaporation processes. It was determined that
leaching water containing no more than 1 per cent salt should be used.


These tests confirm previous U.S. Bureau of Mines work regarding the
leaching of polyhalite to solutions of sulphate of potash and magnesium
sulphate. This data is now being used to design a full-scale counter
current leaching system. Additional testing using larger scale
equipment will be completed this summer.




All scientific and technical disclosures in this press release have been
reviewed by William J. Crowl, a consultant to IC Potash who is a
Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.


Certain information set forth in this news release may contain
forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown
risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject
to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the
control of the Company, including, but not limited to, risks associated
with mineral exploration and mining activities, the impact of general
economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory
approvals, and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing.
Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of
such information, although considered reasonable at the time of
preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance
should not be placed on forward-looking statements.




About IC Potash Corp

IC Potash intends to become a primary producer of Sulphate of Potash
("SOP") by mining its 100%-owned potash Ochoa property in New Mexico.
SOP is a non-chloride based potash fertilizer that sells at a
substantial premium over the price of Muriate of Potash ("MOP"), the
most widely used fertilizer in the world. Typically SOP sells at a
premium of 50% to MOP. ICP is focused on being the lowest cost producer
of SOP in the world. The SOP market is six million tonnes per year.
SOP is a significant fertilizer in the fruit, vegetable, tobacco,
potato, and horticultural industries, and for agriculture in saline and
dry soils and soils in which there is much agriculture with varieties
of crops. Much of the agricultural soil in China, India, and the
United States is salty. ICP's Ochoa property consists of over 100,000
acres of federal subsurface potassium prospecting permits and State of
New Mexico Potassium mining leases.




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For further information:

please visit http://www.icpotash.com/">www.icpotash.com or contact Sidney Himmel at 1-416-624-3781 or [email protected]