From time to time we hear, in the media, stories of the demise of our wildlife. An area of significant concern is the varroa mite destroying our bees. Several countries have this problem. If you think the bees are not so important then consider that it has been reported that if the bees all disappeared today humans would not survive for more than a few years. Bees are a key pollinator of plants assisting the production of our food. No pollination by the bees means a vast reduction in our food supply. If we don’t find a solution to the varroa mite problem potentially causing the bees to become extinct, we face the same threat.
Dr. Linus Pauling made the point that only sick life is attacked by disease and pests, meaning living creatures with weak immune systems. This indicates that the varroa mite are attacking the bees as a result of their weak immune systems. Both John Hamaker and Dr. Maynard Murray observed vastly improved immune systems in plants and farm stock when they were fed on food fertilized with the complete element spectrum whether it was fertilized by way of rock dust or seawater. We’ve learnt from Dr. Maynard Murray’s forty years of research that we don’t develop an optimal immune system unless the complete spectrum of elements is available to us through our food supply.
The problem of weak immune systems in nature exists because of where we are situated on the time line in the one hundred thousand year climate cycle described briefly in the Immune System page.
Health begins with the soil. The only way we can assist the immune systems of creatures in their natural habitat is to replenish the soil with the complete spectrum of elements. No amount of artificial fertilizer can be a substitute for, or perform the function of, nature’s complete element spectrum rock dust. Fertilization has to be done by way of rock dusting, or seawater, or a combination of the two as recommended by John Hamaker in The Survival of Civilisation and also by Helmut Snoek and Horst Wulfrath in Das Buch vom Steinmehl (The Book on Rock Dust).
Examine the image below.
The rock sample on the left is basalt, a volcanic rock that contains a broad spectrum of elements. The sample on the right is a chip off an old rock, one that’s been buried in the soil for who knows how many millennia, but what type of rock is it?
Turning the rock over to show the other side reveals that it is also basalt, with a thin brown crust.
That thin brown crust of no more than a millimetre in depth on the second sample is what’s left after microorganisms have processed the elements in the rock to provide the foundation for your immune system, and the immune systems of all other life above ground, beginning with plants. Microorganisms transform the elements into a suitable form for plant roots to absorb, process and pass onto other life in the form of organic compounds. It is the availability of the complete spectrum of elements that enables immune systems to prevent disease and attacks from parasites and in plants also create greater tolerance to drought and frost. A strong immune system passed onto the plants by soil bound life is passed onto all life above ground and prevent parasites like the varroa mite from destroying the bees.
Microorganisms can only penetrate the rock to a shallow depth. The processed crust has to break down and break away from the rock before microorganisms can continue to penetrate and process the elements deeper in the rock. Life above ground consumes the elements from the soil, through the plants, faster than microorganisms can penetrate the rock and process the elements. This, in conjunction with natural leaching and human activity accelerating leaching, is why we are encountering soil mineral depletion after ten to twelve thousand years of inter-glaciation. We may be heading into glaciation naturally anyway, but the irresponsible action of humans may have accelerated the cycle.
John Hamaker, who reserarched this subject extensively, stated in The Survival of Civilisation, “Everything is connected to everything else. We can have good health only if the soil microorganisms have good health.” Helmut Snoek and Horst Wulfrath put it in a different way in Das Buch vom Steinmehl (The Book on Rock Dust), “If there were no bacteria on earth, so there would be no new life…”
So you see, it isn’t just the bees that are under threat. It’s the entire chain of life.
We learnt in the Immune System page from Dr. Maynard Murray’s research that our systems should contain all elements, in a balance specified by nature, to develop an optimal immune system and that an excess of one or more elements causes blocking of other elements by way of competition (it’s a similar concept to a sports team with most of its players missing. It doesn’t stand a chance against a team with all of its players). Chemical fertilizers contain just a few elements, and in the same way cause an imbalance in the soil due to their relative excess. They also acidify the soil which John Hamaker specifies should be pH neutral.
Soil microorganisms are the key to releasing the elements from the soil for the benefit of our health and are susceptible to the effects of chemicals just like any other life. Pesticides and weedicides entering the soil are destructive to soil organisms and microorganisms. Pesticides also destroy useful above ground organisms as well as the pests. Unnatural water soluable chemicals allowed to enter the soil will be taken up by the plants and have a negative effect on the natural bio-chemical balance and immune systems of life below and above ground.
If you think that you live in a fertile, productive region ask yourself this, “Do the crops and stock need to be treated with farm chemicals against pests and diseases?” If so, then, according to John Hamaker’s and Dr. Maynard Murray’s research, the soil is not providing optimal health for the plants and the stock. In other words their immune systems are not doing the jobs that nature intended. Insect attacks and diseases are symptoms of a failing crop, not the cause of it, just as illnesses and pest attacks are the symptoms of failing immune systems in people (and varroa mite attacks on the bees).
John Hamaker found the same results with rock dusting as Dr. Maynard Murray found with seawater fertilization. Enhanced growth in stock and crops and high resistance to pests and diseases. Their methods also proved to be cheaper than manufactured fertilizers and lasted for many years with one application not just one season as with manufactured fertilizers. Snoek and Wulfrath also repeatedly observed superior growth in plants and a massive reduction in fungal diseases and parasite attacks with the use of rock dust.
We have more than five thousand enzyme systems in operation in our bio-chemistry. Soil fertilization by way of rock dust can provide almost all elements necessary to produce those enzyme systems. Manufactured farm chemicals fall well short of the complete element spectrum which can lead to malnutrition and poor health on a major scale.
Minute quartz (silicon dioxide) particles in the soil are also taken up by plants. Once they have migrated into the cell structure of the plant the particles capture photons of light and release the energy for the setting up of carbohydrates. Many rocks contain quartz ranging from 35% to 80% so additional quartz does not need to be added to the soil. More information is available on this subject in the book Biologie des Lichts. Grundlagen der ultraschwachen Zellstrahlung (Biology of Light Basics) by Dr. Fritz A. Popp. The book appears to have been published in German only.
Adding organic matter to the soil increases bacterial activity. Organic matter is the food supply for various organisms in the soil. The principal orgnaism being the earthworm. The castings from the worms are rich in microorganisms that process the elements in the rocks ready for the plants roots to consume. This means that a high content of organic material in the soil to feed the organisms is as essential to production as the complete spectrum of elements is to feed the microorganisms. Organic matter allows the microorganism population to be in close proximity to the elements to process them completely.
In “The Healthy Hunzas” by J.I. Rodale (1948 – out of print) is a conclusive testimony in research by Sir Albert Howard that chemical agriculture is a slow, invisible killer.
This excerpt is a brief account of a key part of his research:
Sir Albert applied the Pusa methods to his farm for five years and wasn’t surprised when he observed a gradual lessening of disease. The most amazing development occurred with his work-oxen, which were fed the lush crops raised on land that was becoming more and more enriched with living, organic fertilizer material, and not with dead chemicals. Sir Albert’s small farmyard was separated from the large cattle-shed of a neighboring farm by only a low hedge and his oxen often rubbed noses with foot-and-mouth cases. In spite of the fact that they had not received inoculations, his cattle did not contract the disease. Sir Albert Howard duplicated this test on different occasions at other experimental stations, notably at Quetta (1910-1918) and Indore (1924-1931). He proved again and again that disease could be eradicated through proper nutrition.
Soil health depends on an abundance of organic matter worked into the soil to optimize the health of the soil ecosystem.
Since research indicates that we require all elements in the balance that exists in deep ocean water to attain optimal health we should aim to create a rock dust blend as close as practicable to this balance. To achieve this would require extensive analysis of the various rock types and as different samples of the same rock type can vary substantially the task would be near impossible, so a typical analysis may be as good as you’ll get.
John Hamaker stated that limestone is probably a good rock to start with when creating a rock dust blend as it has a broader range of elements than any other single rock type. He had this assumption because limestone came from the ocean floor and was once organic matter. Volcanic rocks and glacial gravels are known to be high in element content. Basalt soils in particular are noted for being rich in elements.
Paramagnetism and diamagnetism are magnetic characteristics of rock that are considered by “dowsers” as the key feature to observe when blending rock dust for soil fertilization. These characteristics are generated at the atomic or molecular level. As the atomic consistancy of rocks of similar types can vary so does the level of paramagnetism and diamagnetism within the type. Paramagnetism appears to be given more attention than diamagnetism. The rule of thumb is that the higher the paramagnetic count the more productive the rock dust will be in the soil and the less application you will need. The claims of improvement to crops are much the same as found by John Hamaker and Maynard Murray. Perhaps selecting rock dust using a high paramagnetic count is just another way of selecting a product rich in elements. Dowsers appear to be more focussed on the energy levels of rock dust than securing the complete element spectrum in the soil, hence they would discard limestone as being a suitable base for a rock dust blend as it has a low paramagnetic count. Our focus is on the the complete spectrum of elements.
Further presentation of paramagnetism and diamagnetism is beyond the scope of this website. If you wish to learn in depth about these forces of nature it seems that Phil Callahan is considered an expert knowledge bank on the subject which is presented in his book Paramagnetism: Rediscovering Nature’s Secret Force of Growth.
This brings us to the topic of adding seawater. According to “Das Buch vom Steinmehl” (The Book on Rock Dust) by Helmut Snoek and Horst Wulfrath rock dust misses out on providing some of the halogens (chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine) so seawater needs to be added to provide these elements which is an excercise that John Hamaker also supports. Hamaker’s recommended dosage is 5 to 10 percent of the rock dust weight. Be wary of collecting your own seawater. Surface water may be low in some elements as a result of sea life consuming the elements as the seawater moves up from the ocean floor and may also contain human induced contaminants. The safe option is to use the product from a deep ocean water harvesting business. Dr. Maynard Murray experimented successfully with unrefined sea salt on soil based crops. His dose rate was 112lbs in 10,000 gallons (most likely US gallons) of fresh water.
Rocks should be ground to 200 mesh grade according to Hamaker, which is about the consistancy of cooking flour. Snoek and Wulfrath say the finer the rock dust the more intense is its effect and when rubbed between the fingers should feel soft not gritty. A finer grade allows the amount applied to the soil to be reduced due to a greater surface area for microorganisms to colonize on. This promotes an increase in activity of soil life.
As John Hamaker states:
“…a one pound stone might have a surface area of 12 square inches. Ground to 200 mesh, it would have a surface area of 8 acres.”
At a fine grade the rock dust can be completely processed by microorganisms without having to take the time to break down making more elements available. This also means that soil will need to be treated more frequently than with a coarser grade. However, Snoek and Wulfrath are also supporters of applying a finer grade rather than a coarser grade stating, “The higher the supply of these substances, the better the bacterial life, the faster their growth.”
As a mechanical engineer John Hamaker designed and built a small-scale, cost effective and efficient rock crusher. An overview and operational description is included in Appendix 1 of To Love and Regenerate the Earth. Appendix 1 provides instructions on how detailed patent-free plans for this design can be obtained.
There is a way for laymen to determine the approximate particle size for themselves.
The fingertip test:
Rub the rock dust between your thumb and forefinger. If you can feel a slight grainy, sandy texture a grain size greater than 0.1 mm is to be assumed.
When the rock dust feels soft like flour and not grainy a grade below 0.05 mm can be accepted.
If you can press the dust together so that a lump is formed which can easily be reduced to dust again by finger pressure the particle size is less than 0.01 mm.
If the powder feels greasy and can be rubbed almost without residue into the skin having the feeling of a lubricant the grain size is just 0.002 to 0.003 mm and below.
The fingertip test is approximate and is no assurance of particle size consistency within a batch.
The friction test:
This friction test can be used to estimate the consistency within a batch.
A pinch of rock dust can be mixed with two to three times clear oil to form a thin paste. Any edible or mineral oil is suitable. Paste the mixture, with a spatula, on a small glass plate and spread it thin over a few centimetres. The smear must be so fine that you can practically see through it. You can now see any difference in grain sizes and can roughly estimate their proportions.
Add a little more oil so that the mixture becomes liquid and runs on the plate when it is inclined. Very fine dust leaves only a uniform grey veil. Coarser particles can be seen leaving a small “comet tail” on the glass.
U.S. Mesh Millimetres 140 - normal (Snoek & Wulfrath) 0.105 200 (Hamaker’s recommendation) 0.074 270 - fine (Snoek & Wulfrath) 0.053
Specific rates of rock dust application are still, to some degree, unestablished as it has not been broadly researched. Existing soil type and fertility will be determining factors. For example, one ton of rock dust per acre on a predominantly clay soil exists at just one part per thousand by weight in the top seven or eight inches whereas a coarse particle soil can have a higher ratio due to a greater volume of air content. When it comes to fertility earthworms are an indicator of soil health. The more prevalent the earthworms the healthier the soil.
Problem soils such as clay and compacted soils need to be reconstructed to return them to good health. Earthworms can’t exist in dense clay soils due to the high binding capacity, they need coarse material in their intestines to survive. This means that the availability of microorganisms in clay is minimal. Compacted soils also limit soil life activity. Crusher screenings can be used to restructure these soils when combined with organic matter.
Waterlogged areas can also be reconstructed using screenings. John Hamaker witnessed a young farmer plough six inches of glacial gravel screenings into a low lying waterlogged section of land to improve drainage. The application achieved the desired result. The fertile rock dust content of the screenings grew a crop of clover with stems up to twelve feet in length which proved difficult to plough back into the soil. Hamaker, in one of his experiments, applied forty six tons per acre of crusher screenings to a section of his own property and expected this to last ten to fifteen years. He estimates this rate as being equivalent to ten to twelve tons of 200 mesh rock dust in fertility.
Snoek and Wulfrath do have some specifics on rock dust applications but are not so specific about the soil type to which it is being applied.
Coarse Grade
Coarse grain rock dust can be spread at a rate of 5 to 10 kg per 100 sq m depending on the soil condition. This same rate is to be repeated in the second year of application and then only every third year subsequently.
If rock dust is prepared in a slurry with organic matter the above rate can be reduced. The preparation should be applied at the end of a growing season or the beginning of the next growing season. In either case working into the soil is not necessary.
In clay, calcareous and compacted soils where the soil life is minimal and worm activity is usually undetectable, repeated, larger rock dust applications (possibly meaning coarse screenings), if possible in conjunction with organic matter, will result in rapid and sustained improvement. After two to three years the sowing of crops, with constant change in the sowing, the soils will become very fertile.
Normal Grade
Where the rock dust is applied during the growing season annual application of normal grade from 20 to 100 kg per 100 sq m, depending on soil condition, in the first four years is necessary. Subsequently this rate needs to be administered only once every two to three years. If the method of surface composting is used, 7 to 10 kg per 100 sq m of normal grade is applied after mowing. The denser and higher the mass of organics the more rock dust is applied.
Fine Grade
In the application of fine grade rock dust the activity of soil life is accelerated with the increased rock dust surface area for the microorganisms to colonize on. This also shortens the organic decomposition time and improves the fertilizing effect.
Fine grade eliminates the need to plough the green growth into the soil at the end of a growing season. Instead, mown or rolled down green growth is left as the cover plant. Decomposing organics are then already in the soil for the next growing season.
Fine rock dust takes effect similar in manner to chemical fertilizers. It has an efficient, rapid onset, but without long term effect. This effect becomes more pronounced as the grade of material becomes finer. Ultra-fine grades the size of clay silt (grain size of 0.002 mm or less) engage in life processes immediately. Coarser materials must first be broken down by weathering or soil life before they can achieve their full biological activity. This also enables their rate of application to be halved and savings of up to a tenth of the amount can be achieved, with respect to coarse grade application, with the same productive result.
Snoek and Wulfrath Grade Descriptions
Fine grade refers to a product whose total mixture is less than 0.05 mm in grain size. Approximately 70% to 80% of the total batch is then expected to be available in a particle size less than 0.02 mm.
Normal grade is often waste product from the large stone production whose particle size is typically 0.1 mm and above.
Coarse grade: no description for course rock dust could be found in Das Buch vom Steinmehl.
The most common spreading method of a dry fertilizer is by broadcast spreader. 200 mesh rock dust is about the consistency of cooking flour so to distribute fine powder by broadcast spreader is impractical. Distribution by drop spreader is more targeted and less problematic in windy conditions. Hamaker recommends working with rock dust while it is still wet from the crushing process which will eliminate the problem and also prevent inhalation causing lung problems. Snoek and Wulfrath recommend adding 3% to 5% water when using cloud dusting machinery for distribution and also warn of the dangers of rock dust inhalation. Seawater can be used for this purpose which will make up your 5% dose rate.
Initialy it may be necessary to work organics and rock dust into the soil. Using a plough is the least destructive to soil organisms. A rotary hoe can cause extensive damage to some soil life, particularly earthworms. Once a healthy soil has been established it is not necessary to work the rock dust and organic matter into the soil. Local experience in a garden plot shows us that once a healthy soil has been established the rock dust can be spread on top of the soil with a layer of organics over the rock dust. The soil life then processes and draws the combination down into the soil at a relatively rapid rate.
Specific information on rock dusting is limited as it is rarely given consideration as a superior fertilizer. This may be because rock dust fertilizer can be self produced and has been shown to last in the soil for years whereas chemical fertilizers need to be applied every season, due to their inferiority, generating more corporate profits.
Books used for references in this web page: