Basalt rock dust

GentleCaveman

GentleCaveman

Well-Known Member
My pop is really knowledgeable geologist, worked and managed bunch of important mines and shit like that. He told me that you can't break Basalt up to get any minerals from it. They even use Basalt in labs and other places that uses heavy acids. Because even the heaviest acid can't break down Basalt. It's one of the oldest rocks that we have on earth. So I see people talking about adding Basalt to their soil to get minerals from it. Can someone please explain me how do we get minerals from something that doesn't break down?

Also about Glacial Rock Dust: Glacial rock is any rock that formed into very smooth circleish shape after tumbling in glacials in ice age. It's obviously more complicated from that but my English doesn't allow me to explain all the detail. It's not a specific rock, it's just any rock that happened to be in that glacial. So how can someone sell product called Glacial Rock Dust without saying what kind rock it actually is?

I would like to get schooled from someone knowledgeable in this subject. Because things doesn't add up for me after talking with the pop. And he doesn't talk unless he's right.
 
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cannabineer

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
GentleCaveman said:
My pop is really knowledgeable geologist, worked and managed bunch of important mines and shit like that. He told me that you can't break Basalt up to get any minerals from it. They even use Basalt in labs and other places that uses heavy acids. Because even the heaviest acid can't break down Basalt. It's one of the oldest rocks that we have on earth. So I see people talking about adding Basalt to their soil to get minerals from it. Can someone please explain me how do we get minerals from something that doesn't break down?

Also about Glacial Rock Dust: Glacial rock is any rock that formed into very smooth circleish shape after tumbling in glacials in ice age. It's obviously more complicated from that but my English doesn't allow me to explain all the detail. It's not a specific rock, it's just any rock that happened to be in that glacial. So how can someone sell product called Glacial Rock Dust without saying what kind rock it actually is?

I would like to get schooled from someone knowledgeable in this subject. Because things doesn't add up for me after talking with the pop. And he doesn't talk unless he's right.
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1) Basalt weathers, and the soils it yields can be quite fertile. Think Hawai'i. Organic basalt is more expensive but has no nutrient advantage.

2) I imagine Glacial Rock Dust is sorted glacial till ... the stuff the Midwest was covered in, and now it's premium farmland. Now I figure Glacial Rock Dust to be rather more silicic than basalt, so it'll have more of What Plants Crave. As for how they can sell it, I imagine "in big bags".
 
GentleCaveman

GentleCaveman

Well-Known Member
cannabineer said:
1) Basalt weathers, and the soils it yields can be quite fertile. Think Hawai'i. Organic basalt is more expensive but has no nutrient advantage.

2) I imagine Glacial Rock Dust is sorted glacial till ... the stuff the Midwest was covered in, and now it's premium farmland. Now I figure Glacial Rock Dust to be rather more silicic than basalt, so it'll have more of What Plants Crave. As for how they can sell it, I imagine "in big bags".
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Oooh, big bags. Thanks man that helps alot. Jokes aside, yeah I guess since I'm translating those names to very different language to talk with him there might be some missunderstandings about the exact substances. I don't know. Thumbs up to basalt then.
 
cannabineer

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
GentleCaveman said:
Oooh, big bags. Thanks man that helps alot. Jokes aside, yeah I guess since I'm translating those names to very different language to talk with him there might be some missunderstandings about the exact substances. I don't know. Thumbs up to basalt then.
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Perhaps I'm not getting something. What constraints would you place upon a purveyor of Glacial Rock Dust?
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Well if you can read it and give him the info it will support your position and educate him. Good opportunity, student becomes the teacher.
 
GentleCaveman

GentleCaveman

Well-Known Member
cannabineer said:
This could mean Hindi or Tamil or Diné ... in any case not a language I know. So I cannot assist.

I remain curious about your concern about the glacial rock dust.
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I'm not concerned about anythig thats not stated on my first post. You can go back and read it untill you find the answer for your curiousity.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
"Compared to other volcanic rocks that are high in quartz, basalt weathers relatively quickly.

It begins to release nutrients to plants as soon as the roots make contact. Additional nutrients become available with ongoing decomposition, thereby resulting in a steady flow of nutrients over time."

That pretty much covers it.
 
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