Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Minerals Corporation
- GA 8
- Primary Agency
- 1945-1988
Saskatchewan Minerals initial mandate was to oversee the production of Saskatchewan clay products. Early in 1946 the mandate expanded to include the production of sodium sulphate. The Crown consisted of two divisions, Saskatchewan Clay Products Division and the Sodium Sulphate Division.
Saskatchewan Clay Products plant was located in Estevan where brick and tile were produced for sale in Saskatchewan and abroad. This division also mined raw clay as part of its operation to supplement sales of the bricks and tiles. The plant operated under this name until 1966 when it was officially re-named the Estevan Brick Company. The government privatised the division in 1969.
The Sodium Sulphate division's first plant was opened in 1948 at Chaplin, Saskatchewan. The sodium sulphate (also known as salt cake) was to be used in the manufacturing of pulp and paper products. Over time, demand for the salt cake expanded and Saskatchewan Minerals purchased the Bishopric plant located in Mossbank.
In 1966 the construction of the Ingebrigt plant was begun to satisfy new demands for a higher grade of saltcake known as "detergent grade" to be used in the manufacturing of detergents as well as the glass and dyeing industries. 1981 saw the last expansion of the division when the plant at Gladmer, known as Sybouts, was opened.
Saskatchewan Minerals was privatised in 1988 and was purchased by Goldcorp Incorporated.