Incredible Minerals Today

Most people know of diatomaceous earth because they use it to filter their swimming pools or for its natural insecticide properties to control insects in their homes or gardens. Biologists know about diatoms, the single-celled plants that form diatomaceous earth, because they are truly the lungs of the earth, in that they produce about ¾ of the world’s new oxygen supply. Materials scientists know about diatom skeletons (called frustules), the tiny, intricate porous opal structures, because they are known to be the strongest naturally-occurring substances.

On August 31, we celebrate National Diatomaceous Earth Day to recognize the diatom and the remarkable substance it creates, diatomaceous earth.

Most people know of diatomaceous earth because they use it to filter their swimming pools or for its natural insecticide properties to control insects in their homes or gardens. Biologists know about diatoms, the single-celled plants that form diatomaceous earth, because they are truly the lungs of the earth, in that they produce about ¾ of the world’s new oxygen supply. Materials scientists know about diatom skeletons (called frustules), the tiny, intricate porous opal structures, because they are known to be the strongest naturally-occurring substances.

On August 31, we celebrate National Diatomaceous Earth Day to recognize the diatom and the remarkable substance it creates, diatomaceous earth.

 Crazy ant image: University of Florida

A few years ago when we first started working on our DEsect® organic insecticide, I noticed that “crazy ants” were on the list of insects that DEsect would kill. At first, I thought our product manager was playing a joke on me. I’d never heard of crazy ants before, and we did list other kinds of ants in addition to the largest number of insects killed on the label. I did a little research. Crazy ants are a real thing, and they’re terrible.

It's not easy being in the agricultural business these days. Rising costs, declining crop margins, regulatory pressure, water issues and nitrogen runoff problems. All the while trying to reduce your impact on the environment. What's a farmer to do?

By Alexey Makoveev, EP Minerals’ area sales manager for Russia and Julie Brown

Here in Russia, we really like our beer. (And our vodka, but that’s another subject.) But we don’t think much about how beer is made and what makes it better. How do you make the best beer? Is the ingredients? The hops, the malt, the barley? The recipe? The brewer? The fermenting process? Is it in how you store it?

What I can tell you after working with top brewers all over Russia and other countries, is that the key to great beer comes down to one thing: Filtration.

 Nevada STEM teachers finding stickleback fish fossils at EP Minerals' diatomaceous earth mine

Earlier this week, teachers from Northern Nevada took a graduate-level, for-credit course called Earth Systems Matter, at the EP Minerals' Hazen, Nevada diatomaceous earth (DE) mine. This was no ordinary tour, mind you. Not only did the teachers learn about the history and geology of DE (from EP Minerals' Mine & Exploration Manager Skylar Burdette,) they also got to dig for 7-10 million year old stickleback fish fossils! Through the Nevada Mining Association, EP Minerals regularly offers this class to Northern Nevada teachers. It’s critical that teachers go back to their classrooms and teach their students about the importance of mining and minerals in our lives. 

When people think of wine, probably countries such as France, Italy, and the U.S. come to mind, but rarely China. Surprisingly, China is now the fifth largest consumer of wine in the world, with total consumption being about one-half of the total consumed in the U.S. This is a recent phenomenon that accelerated in the late 1990’s and has continued largely uninterrupted to present. The Chinese wine market grew 58% in the period 1996- 2001; 99% from 2001- 2006 and 192% from 2006-2011 before peaking in 2012 and slowing for several years. Rapid growth resumed in 2014 seeing 50% year-on-year growth from 2014 to 2015 (however, much of this growth was bulk import of wines, not domestic production). 90% of the wine produced in China is consumed domestically.

Industrial minerals might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking about how to spend your Fourth of July weekend, but maybe they should be. Consider these top ideas for having fun in the sun with diatomaceous earth, clay, and perlite this weekend:

Earlier this month, EP Minerals opened a new warehouse in Groß-Rohrheim, Germany to better serve our customers. The new 85,000 square foot warehouse, is centrally located to our European customers, providing logistical efficiencies, modern bulking equipment, a “safety stock" of products, and shows EP Minerals' commitment to sustainability.

 Nevada bighorns at the EP Minerals' Clark plant and mine

A herd of Nevada bighorns is doing quite well in an area right outside the EP Minerals’ Clark diatomaceous earth (DE) plant and mine. Just about a year ago, the herd numbered about 20. Today we’ve counted over 70 bighorns living on the cliffs. It’s a testament to how setting up wildlife habitats in the right place leads to a great sustainability story. How did this come about?