North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Judi Stewart" <js@olympus.net>]

Lawrence,

 

I had been picking up granite dust fines from a local quarry and spreading
about 10 pounds under each fruit tree canopy.  Then I added the rock dust to
a working compost, applied it after a time and saw that this method was an
improvement. But the little I've been able to find out about the
agricultural uses of pyrophyllite, tells me that this clay is an outstanding
soil amendment and far superior to other clays or dusts.  I'm in western
Washington, did as you suggested and found mines in California and Oregon.  

 

Thank you for pointing me in this direction.

 

Judi

 

------------------------------

 

Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:03:27 -0500

From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@bellsouth.net>

Subject: Re: [nafex ibiblio list] Pyrophyllite (was Re: Meyers Lemon

            picture)

To: nafex ibiblio mailing list <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>

 

 

On 12/25/2011 11:00 PM, Judi Stewart wrote:

> Lawrence,

> Please tell me more about your use of pyrophyllite and where would I 

> find some?

 

>>I will try adding rock dusts to the soil mix for remineralization,  

>>flavor, fruit keeping qualities and hardiness.

>> 

>> This will include azomite, pyrophyllite and granite dusts. The 

>> pyrophyllite promotes amazing feeder root growth, ideal for vegetable 

>> and herb starts as well as fruit seedlings of all sizes and types.

 

What I have came from Piedmont Minerals in Hillsborough, NC. It produces
bagged pyrophyllite for sale to the steel and ceramics industries. It is
stable dimensionally under heat.

 

There is a lot of talc in it. I think that may be what makes it a great
potting or planting medium for stimulating plant feeder root growth.

I have used other rock dusts: granite and volcanic tuff (very hard but
ground finer that anything else I have used). The MSDS indicates .2% potash.
At the mine it is free for the hauling - they load for free - you pay for
hauling.

 

Free quarry rock dusts used on gardens or orchards will give plants disease
and insect resistance and outstanding flavor, appearance, keeping qualities
of harvested crops. The added flavor of vegetables grown in remineralized
soils gives the farmer the competitive edge.

 

I would suggest Googling pyrophyllite mine or quarry in the US to find
locations of companies mining this product near you.

 

Its uses:

 

seed starting medium

potting medium

field crop or orchard soil amendment

 

It is an unusual material and very effecting at improving soil quality and
growing conditions for crops of all sorts. Obtain an MSDS to see the
chemical analysis of it and percentages of minerals it contains.

 

Let me know if you need more info. If you're near Chapel Hill you can pick
up a free sample at the mine in Hillsborough.

 

LL