Results of a programme of laboratory scale testwork conducted to investigate fresh water leaching of epsomite ore originating from Coober Pedy in South Australia are as follows: 1). The ore when leached readily producing brines of uniform composition, with total salt extraction efficiencies of 56-67%. 2). The highest possible solids content practical for leaching was 33-?% (1 ore : 2 water). Above this solids content, the slurry was too thick to pour, and solid/liquid separation was almost impossible. 3). Solid/liquid separation problems were repeatedly encountered with leached slurries, due to their high clay content and fine sizing analyses (approximately 80% less than 5 microns). Reasonable separation could only be achieved by centrifuge. 4). Because of the poor solid/liquid separation, residual moisture content of the leached residue was high, usually above 40%, even after centrifuge separation. 5. Electrostatic beneficiation of dry 1 mm ore proved ineffective, even though several electrode combinations were tried. Although an economic assessment of the project has not yet been made, it would seem for obvious reasons, viz. because of the low salt recovery, poor solid/liquid separation and high moisture content of the leach residue, that such a scheme would not prove viable unless the clays could be removed, without significant salt loss, prior to leaching.