Salt minerals of various deposits belong to the sedimentary rocks class. They were formed with the long evaporation of seawater in different geological epochs and therefore consist, as a rule, of salt minerals belonging to chlorides and sulphide of alkali and alkaline-earth metals. Forexample, the Starobinsky deposit is characterized by halogen compounds, and Kalushsky and Stebnikovskoye ones by sulfate salts. In addition, inBerezniki deposit and in other Russian deposits there are mixed rocks, including various potassium compounds. Taking into account the peculiarities of potash deposits caused by their easy solubility, acomprehensive solution for their development, containing both the conditions for conducting mining operations and the conditions for theenrichment of potassium-bearing ores, will be relevant.

The correct selection of technology for processing potash ore depends on its mineralogical composition, the natural size and shape of grains, as well as on the amount and size of halite grains located in the intergranular space of sylvinites. The study of seams and mineralogical and petrographic studies of potash ore were carried out in order to determine the natural size of sylvinite grains, their shape, and the content of halite in the intergranular space.Moreover, the influence of these parameters on the beneficiation ability of the ore using dry cleaning process was determined. In addition, the data on laboratory studies using electric separation is provided in the paper. The results of the provided studies can be used by specialists of the mining industry when considering the influence of the mineral composition, size and shape of grains of potash ore in order to select the separation method at the early stages of development of potash deposits. The study of core material and mechanical properties, mineralogical and petrographic studies together with studies on beneficiation ability of ore presented in the article can be used, for example, in the preparation of a feasibility report.

This article proposes a step-by-step algorithm for selecting the minimum permissible (optimal) width of the interpillar pillar when mining the IV -th sylvinite layer when applying the technological scheme of layer excavation of the Third Potash horizon with sequential mining of layers in areas with a stable direct roof and possible re-use of the transport drifts of the faces. The development system scheme is proposed. The technological schemes of preparation and mining of potassium formations for the Starobinskoye deposit are schemes that include the maximum possible extraction of reserves from the subsurface, solving simultaneously the problem of dynamic roof collapse, ensuring a minimum amount of mining preparation work with good stability of preparatory workings and face space, high rates of ore quality and productivity of mechanized complexes.