Disclosed are methods for solution mining of evaporite minerals, such as
trona, comprising drilling an access well and at least two lateral
boreholes; injecting a fluid; circulating the fluid through the lateral
boreholes with a controlled fluid flow; and collecting a pregnant
solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that include
injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity at a
temperature sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the solution in
the cavity in the Wegscheiderite solid phase region; removing aqueous
solution from the cavity; and recovering alkaline values from the removed
aqueous solution. Also disclosed are methods of solution mining that
include injecting an aqueous solution into an underground trona cavity;
removing aqueous solution from the cavity, wherein the temperature of the
removed aqueous solution is at about the TWA point temperature; and
recovering alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution.