One question that we field a lot is about Plant Derived Minerals. What are they, exactly?
The Plant Derived Minerals are from an ancient plant deposit, but it is very different in both composition and properties from “rocks.” The humic shale (the ancient plant deposit) can be soft enough that it breaks apart in your hands, and you can actually see the minerals that have risen to the surface when water evaporates through the humic shale.
Think of humic shale as coal (ancient plant deposits) that hasn’t been compressed enough to turn hard like coal.
Many people search for definitions of humic shale and turn to Wikipedia, which offers a definition for “shale” but not for “humic shale.” There is a difference! Here is a term that Wikipedia does list that may help: “Humic acid”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid
“Humic acid is a principal component of humic substances, which are the major organic constituents of soil (humus), peat, coal, many upland streams, dystrophic lakes, and ocean water.[1] It is produced by biodegradation of dead organic matter. It is not a single acid; rather, it is a complex mixture of many different acids “
As you can see in this definition, it talks about “humus” — organic matter — and this “humus” is where the term “humic shale” comes from. Another non-Youngevity site that uses humic shale as the basis for lawn care products explains:
“Humic shale was created by the decomposition (composting) and compaction of prehistoric plant material over 75-million years old. During the decomposition process, plant material is pre-digested by microorganisms, resulting in a rich black spongy layer of decayed organic material called compost or humus. Humus is both a soil conditioner and a plant nutrient.
The decomposed plant matter that has been converted into humic shale contains at least 72 trace minerals that can make your soil healthier by feeding plants and the microorganism that keep the soil healthy. These minerals had previously been extracted from the soil by living plants and incorporated into their bodies in a colloidal form – a very small molecule that can pass through the cells walls – as the plants grew. Once the plants died and decayed, the nutrients were released and stored in the compost. They are now available in the humic shale in an ideal form for new plants to use. Because they are still in colloidal form, plants can uptake the trace minerals quickly.”
Hopefully this helps you understand. Please refer to Dr. Wallach’s book, Rare Earths, for more information. And for information on the minerals, there is a CD with Richard Renton entitled “Quality, Quality, Quality.” Also, the SELENIUM CD by Dr. G.N. Schrauzer is an excellent interview with one of the most profound scientists of our generation.