The company has investigated a new deposit of industrial minerals “GLORIA”- (glauconite sandstones) raw material for the production of natural greensand mineral flour – ecologically pure chlorine-free potassium fertilizer for agriculture with proven complex importance for improving the structure, macroelements, microelements and water balance of the soil and from there to increase both yields of agricultural products and to improve their quality characteristics, long-term preservation characteristics of the fertilized soils for a very long period of time.
There have been proven reserves and resources of 17 million m3 of glauconite raw material in the area of Malo Peshtene and Goliamo Peshtene, Vratsa Municipality with an area of 519 dka
Application of glauconite raw material
Starting material for the production of clean chlorine-free potassium fertilizerforagriculture
Thanks to its specific properties (layered structure and active cations), glauconite is a very valuable raw material with different uses in agriculture for the production of natural mineral fertilizers with complex multifactor impact. Naturally arises the question – “for what reason could be produced such high efficiency of glauconite?”.
Numerous studies and practical experience worldwide testify that this is possible due to the following mechanisms of effects on soil and plants:
- Glauconite is not only a source of macro-nutrients for plants (K, Na, P) but above all a means of improving soil structure and soil moisture storage.
- The high separating surface of glauconite allows it to saturate the ions and evenly distribute them in the growing season, increasing the efficiency of the mineral fertilizer.
- The fact that many microelements (Co, Zn, Mn, etc.) are present in the glauconite can not be underestimated, which may have a stimulating effect on the growth and overall development of the plants.
- The high absorption and ion exchange capacity of glauconite enhances its water-retaining properties, which contributes to the longer and more efficient use of nutrients contained in the soil.
Glauconite sandstones are already attracting attention in many countries with low cost, high potassium, and the possibility of releasing easy-to-use compounds over a very long period of time.
Considering the accumulated global and local experience in the research, processing and use of glauconite in various agricultural sectors, the studied glauconite sandstones from the Gloria deposit should be considered as raw material for the production of natural complex glauconite fertilizer with multi-factorial influence (K, P, Mn) and trace elements (Cu, Zn, Mg, B, Fe, etc.) but also extremely important for improving its structure, preventing the export of volatile substances stored moisture promotes growth and reduces the incidence of plants and for a relatively long period of time, the 20-25 years.
Ø Other options for using glauconite sandstone starting industrial-type material
Due to its specific properties (presence of coloring oxides, active cations and layered structure) glauconite is a valuable source of raw materials for different uses and in many other sectors of industry and agriculture:
- In agriculture – livestock, poultry and fish-farming glauconite is used as a food supplement. It improves the metabolic processes, increases the digestibility and absorption of food, reduces the concentration of ammonia, microtoxins and other toxic components that are formed in the body; regulates the relationship of Ca and Na and improves the body’s supply of Fe in birds. Adding of glauconite into ponds has a stimulating effect on the development of phytoplankton and accelerates the growth rate of fish populations.
- In construction and building materials:
- as a pigment in the manufacture of paints, resistant to acids and light (facade paints and Paints used in cement and concrete production);
- in the glass industry – production of various types of colored glass;
- Water supply – as a chemical absorber for softening solid water.
- In the sugar, beer, wine and textile industries – as a softener of hard water.
