Earth Day is the one time of year global citizens focus on environmental issues. We live on this earth every day, and so we need to protect it. This Earth Day, let’s reflect on the eco-friendly use of mineral products and processes that benefit current and future environmental conditions. . When we work to help keep the earth healthy, we’re also helping to keep the people of earth healthy too.

Earth Day Activities

If you’re looking for an easy way to celebrate Earth Day today (and every day), here are some suggestions:

1. Educate yourself and others about current environmental issues. Without proper care, today’s problems can become tomorrow’s catastrophe. Reading this blog is the first step, so go ahead and check one thing off your list.
2. Conserve essential resources, such as water and energy, in your daily life.
3. Support businesses dedicated to using sustainable practices to create eco-friendly products.
4. Contribute to local biodiversity by planting a native tree, growing your own food, and planting a pollinator-friendly garden.

When it comes to planting, you can take sustainability one step further by choosing the eco-friendly products to grow strong, healthy plants.

Planting a Sustainable Garden with Minerals

Gardening is already an environmentally friendly way to support yourself, community, and the local ecosystem. However, certain products and practices boost sustainability by not incorporating chemicals to feed the soil or prevent problems.

Minerals such as perlite and vermiculite are two popular soil amendments with a number of beneficial features.

• Perlite is a volcanic glass that, when heated, transforms into a lightweight, porous material with excellent moisture- and nutrient-retention properties. Tiny white pieces of perlite in soil mixes help create space, improving drainage and air circulation to the roots.
• Vermiculite is a magnesium-aluminum-iron silicate formed from weathering rocks. When heated, it also expands into a lightweight material known for its water-retention properties, making it an ideal soil additive for plants that require moist, humid conditions.

Both of these naturally occurring minerals have a neutral pH, meaning they won’t affect the soil’s acidity or other biological processes. Adding these minerals to the soil helps maintain optimal conditions for plant growth and health.

Benefits of Minerals in Sustainable Agriculture

Perlite and vermiculite aren’t only beneficial to backyard gardens. They’re also used on a larger scale to help sustain the agriculture industry. Here’s how a small mineral can make a big difference:

1. Minerals help improve soil structure and water-retention properties that keeps the soil moist. This conserves the amount of water needed and reduces the risk of contamination from chemical alternatives.
2. Minerals are naturally sourced, renewable resources.
3. Use and reuse all elements of mined perlite to minimize waste.
4. The lightweight nature of these materials makes them more cost-effective to use, produce, and ship.
5. Using a natural resource to enhance plant growth limits the need for other potentially hazardous additives, helping to ensure a healthier future.

Sustainable agriculture is an important practice for maintaining essential farming processes while protecting the environment. Since soil is the foundation of healthy crops and livestock, improving the quality with minerals only helps to improve the quality of life for farmers and the greater society.

Filtering a Renewable Resource

Another way to help keep the world running smoothly is to power it with renewable resources. Producing biodiesel for fueling vehicles and machinery is one eco-friendly alternative. In order to optimize the production process, minerals are used to filter the oils that make up this fuel.

During the process of making biodiesel, fatty acids in the oil combine with water and a catalyst, creating a contaminating soap by-product. This soap can clog filtering fibers, and the build-up overtime can negatively impact production. Plus, when the biodiesel is burned in your engine, the soap leaves an ashy residue which affects emissions.

By properly filtering out impurities, you help increase effectiveness and decrease the risk of future issues. However, the material you use to filter fuel is important.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is often used as a filter aid. Its honeycomb-like structure offers the following benefits:

• A high capacity for holding solids allows for longer filter cycles, meaning more solids are removed and less liquid is contaminated.
• Extends the filtering flow rate without clogging.
• Porous cell walls are small enough to trap bacteria, clay particles, and other solids.

Perlite is also used as a filter aid because of the following properties:

• Perlite filter cakes remain porous and do not compact.
• Users can easily switch their current filtration media to perlite without sacrificing performance.
• Use perlite with either pressure or vacuum filtration equipment.
• No matter the temperature, perlite filters are virtually insoluble in mineral and organic acids. However, solubility in strong alkaline solutions varies depending on temperature and contact time.
• Perlite filter aids weigh about 50% less than the other types of filter media.
• This naturally inert mineral does not alter the color or odor of the product.

Since biodiesel is already a more eco-friendly fuel solution, you should consider a more natural filtering methods with minerals like DE and perlite.

Save Energy on Earth Day with Mineral-Based Insulation

Another way to do your part for the planet is to save valuable resources used through energy consumption. Proper insulation optimizes energy efficiency for heating and cooling systems. Using minerals in insulating products not only boosts effectiveness, but it’s also a more natural solution.

Here’s where perlite comes back in the picture. Expanded perlite consists of glass bubbles of trapped air which act as millions of tiny insulators. This helps shield products from extreme hot and cold, making it beneficial for both cryogenic and fireproof applications.

Mining Minerals in a Sustainable Way

Even though minerals are a more eco-friendly solution for a variety of industries, it’s still important to source these products in a sustainable way. Dicalite Management Group is dedicated to responsibly mining and processing our minerals. We take care to minimize the amount of surface exposed, and we replant native vegetation to generate new ecosystems. We’ve replanted over 2,000 local species of trees every year in active reclamation areas.

We also use reclaimed runoff and stormwater to reduce valuable resources while helping to control dust in the area. A baghouse is also used to collect dust from the air. The emissions from mining and plant processes are closely monitored and regulated to help protect the air quality and atmosphere.

From our sustainable processes to our eco-friendly products, Dicalite Management Group supports agricultural, industrial, and commercial industries with superior mineral filter aids and soil amendments to satisfy your needs. As you’re looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day, remember to support those who support the earth. We look forward to working with you and doing our part for sustainable practices in the name of a healthier future.