Co-utilization of rock dust, mineral fines and compost

Robin A.K. Szmidt & John Ferguson Abstract This report examines the relevance and potential of techniques using rockdust to remineralize soils in Scotland. Rockdust (RD) is a generic term applied to fine materials produced as by-products of quarrying and mineral processing. The concept is concerned with making available a multitude of minerals from freshly crushed rocks that are considered by advocates not to be present in larger quantities in weathered soils. Claimed benefits include : •enhanced long term sustainable soil fertility and diverse soil biology; •multi-season effects; •enhanced plant establishment, growth and vigour;...