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nafex - Re: [nafex ibiblio list] Pyrophyllite

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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@bellsouth.net>
  • To: nafex ibiblio mailing list <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [nafex ibiblio list] Pyrophyllite
  • Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:21:21 -0500

On 12/29/2011 3:24 AM, Judi Stewart wrote:

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.

That's great Judi. Could you give me the link to the info about it being a superior product? Glad you will at least be able to find some fairly near you. Another idea: call Piedmont Minerals, Martin Marietta or the companies owning the mines you located in California and Oregon ans ask them if there are any sources in your immediate area.

Here's a description of how I used rock dusts mixed by a skid loader with manures and compost to build the soil on my 6+ acre farm.
<>
I have used on my 6+ acre farmland Yeoman's plows, giant hiller bedder
cultivator (https://picasaweb.google.com/103223907782626104592/TractorEquipment), rotavator, hundreds of tons of several types of rock dusts, hundreds of tons of manures and compost, greensand, azomite, rock and colloidal phoshate and assorted other natural soil amendments. I did a once for all time massive soil building program then sold all the equipment and now work my beds by hand, basically no or minimum till (https://picasaweb.google.com/103223907782626104592/GardenTools). I am now in the camp of no till with minimum till when absolutely necessary, let weeds or crops take care of weed problems. It works. You would be surprised at how naturally-occuring stands of goldenrod, ragweed or daisy and lambs quarter will create bare ground underneath them.
<>

LL


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 effective 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.




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