Green Earth: description and scope of use

One of the most useful minerals that are used by man in many areas is glauconite. Many people do not even suspect that this component is a part of a huge number of fertilizers, cosmetics, medicine and other daily-used drugs and substances. Therefore, it is important to know what effects it can have on health, what are the main properties of this natural mineral, and exactly where it is used most often. Answers to all these questions will be discussed in detail in our article.

Glauconite can be distinguished from other minerals in a characteristic green shade with various types of color impurities. Such a mineral can usually be seen among sedimentary rocks in the area of ​​phosphorites, marls, sands, as well as in coastal marine zones. The formation of this stone occurs in the oceans, with the participation of various marine organisms.

The class to which the similar mineral belongs is - first-order semi-precious stones (according to the classification created by A. Fersman and M. Bauer). The name of the stone comes from the Greek word guakos, the translation of which means "green-blue, bluish-green, light green", according to the primary colors present in this breed.

In paleogenic sediments, the stone is present in four forms - long-range, autigenic, allogenic and allogenic relic. The authigenic type of glauconite contains more than fifty chemical substances. By their ratio, one can get information about the paleogeographic factors of glauconitization.

The composition of this mineral includes quite a lot of components, among which there are such as sodium oxide, iron oxide, magnesium oxide, water, potassium oxide, aluminum oxide, iron oxide, silicon dioxide.

The determining factor in the separation of glauconite into species is the color of the mineral. It can be represented by the following shades:

• dark green with olive sheen;
• black and green;
• black and yellow;
• green and yellow;
• green with a bluish tint;
• grass tint green.

There is a kind of glauconite, the composition of which is characterized by a large amount of potassium. It is called celadonite. Such a stone is presented in the form of spherocrystalline elements having a radial-fibrous structure. It is found in the territories of Denmark, Hungary, USA, Italy and Ukraine.

Usually deposits of such a mineral as glauconite can be found where the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks are located. Minerals are mined on the eastern slope of the Urals, as well as on the territory of Ukraine.

You will learn more about the glauconite deposit in the Moscow region by watching the following video.

Like any mineral, glauconite has a number of physical properties, which subsequently determine the scope of use of this stone. These properties include:

• opacity;
• glass shine;
• matte ebb;
• fragility;
• density indicators from 2.3 to 2.9 g / cm³;
• earthy fracture of the granular type;
• does not form large clusters;
• the mineral is difficult to melt, with the formation of black glass;
• The most important property of glauconite is its ability to absorb radioactive components;
• in nature, this mineral is released in the form of balls or grains of the isometric type, as well as their clusters, the selection in the form of crystals is extremely rare.

Due to its unique composition, glauconite is popular in various fields of activity and services. Most often it is used in the following forms.

• As a fertilizer, due to the large amount of potassium oxide in the composition of the mineral. Even complex potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are produced on the basis of glauconite. Mineral-based fertilizer has various beneficial properties:
  • it nourishes the soil layers with such nutrients as zinc, manganese, boron and copper;
  • helps in maintaining the necessary balance of moisture in the soil;
  • stimulates the growth of seedlings and makes them more resistant to diseases;
  • An important feature of such fertilizers is their effect on the concentration of toxic substances, preventing oversaturation of plants with them;
  • this type of fertilizer, such as glauconite flour, contributes to the fact that the yield of some crops (for example, potatoes and certain types of grain) increases.

• The mineral is used as a raw material in the manufacture of industrial-grade green paints or for painting.. Also actively applied technology for the manufacture of dry facade paints based on glauakonit.

• Due to the fact that the properties of the sorbent are inherent to glauconite, it is involved in the technology of filtering water from heavy metals and salts, often the mineral is used for the operation of sewage treatment plants. It can also reduce water hardness. This is due to the cation exchange in which the mineral is involved.

• Thanks to its ability to reduce radiation levels, glauconite is used to restore the places affected by it, as well as those areas that are affected by the activities of technogenic enterprises.

• Glauconite is effective for use in animal husbandry. It acts as an integral component of the feed of various farm animals. It has the following types of positive effects on various inhabitants of farms and private farmsteads.
  • Improves metabolic processes in the body of animals.
  • Reduces the concentration of toxic elements that are formed in the organs of animals.
  • Contributes to the increase in live weight in pigs, as well as obtaining larger offspring from sows.
  • When the mineral is added to the composition of sheep food, they have increased resistance to various diseases, including such as brucellosis. In addition, the feed enriched with mineral contributes to more intensive growth of wool.
  • The body of poultry when using this supplement begins to absorb iron better, since glauconite promotes a balanced distribution of sodium and potassium in the body.
  • In cattle with the use of mineral there is a significant increase in growth.
  • The mineral, in addition to the feed additive, is also used as a litter for animals. This layer is useful because it improves hygiene in areas where livestock lives, reducing the amount of harmful gases and emissions.

• Not bypassed this mineral and fish farming. Due to its addition to the reservoir, phytoplankton development processes are activated, the growth rate and weight gain of young fish significantly increase.

• Even in the field of petrochemistry, glauconite is necessary., because it is used for dehydration and desalting of oil.

• Since the mineral has a clay texture, his second name in the field of medicine and cosmetology is "green clay".For cosmetic purposes, masks are created that help to normalize the processes in the skin cells, make its texture softer, and also prevent aging processes.

1. removal of heavy metals from the body;
2. prevention of anemia;
3. improvement of reproductive processes;
4. the establishment of a balance in the endocrine system;
5. stimulation of regeneration processes;
6. stabilization of enzymes in the intestines;
7. increased stress resistance;
8. providing immunomodulatory effects;
9. an obstacle to the development of sclerosis;
10. stabilization of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid processes.

See how a stone looks like under a microscope, see below.