Bara clay

A local product with unique abilities

We get the clay from areas only found around Bara. It´s a special kind of clay that consist of an unique mixture of clay minerals. This clay has been naturally formed in small saltwater seas during the last ice-age and have never been exposed to chlorides, and the very unique mineralogical composition is what gives this special clay its unique characteristics. One really important characteristic is its cation exchange capabilities (CEC), but our clay even have a certain anion capacity (AEC) too, which is very unusual. Studies has found that we have one of the worlds cleanest clays that is especially suited for horticulture.

Refraction

After a careful ground examination has been executed, and all permissions from the authorities etc. (often a 3 year long process), the top soil layer is carefully removed. Then the clay is harvested and sun dried before it is transported to our giant storage facilities at Bara. Since wet clay is fairly tough to handle - we harvest our clay during the dry seasons in the summer. During this time we´ve got to prepare for the planned volumes for the next year. After opening up the clay surface, all usable clay gets distributed onto this years surface. After that, the top soil we removed earlier - will be put back on top again. Doing things this way ensures a minimum of weed seeds in the clay and minimizes the effect on the environment. When the Refraction is completed, the entire field becomes farmland again.

Bara - the clays unique abilities and usage

The clay granulate is primarily used for mixing with peat to produce a growth substrate, but there are also other uses for the product, such as: food supplement, to improve sand compositions to better hold the water, as a wetting agent and oxygenator or as a raw material for plant care products just to mention a few examples. Bara clay granulate is a product of nature that is also very well suited for ecological growing.

The clays unique characteristics, plus the fact that we dry and heat our clay - makes the clay nematode, virus and weed seed free, this brings our clay up to such high quality standards that it has been approved by the Quality Control organ in Holland, RHP. As if that wasn´t enough - our quality control is 3rd part monitored by ECAS (Europese Certificatie-instelling in de Agrarische Sector).

The right minerals

Good clay usually have a high 3-layer mineral content. Smectite and illite are both 3-layer minerals. Kaolinite is a 2-layer mineral. The Smectite has one drawback, it can often have a high swelling. The swelling of illite however, is limited. Kaolinite have a very limited CEC. The table below shows Bara Mineralers clay. We dare to compare!

Chemical composition

Illite 35%
Quartz 20%
Feldspar 10%
Kaolinite 5%
Gotit/glimmer 5%

The clay keeps the nutritions in.

Thanks to the colloids ability to exchange ions, the added cations (positive ions) gets bound to the surfaces. This decrease the risk of leaching and root burns that could occur due to high levels of nutrition. This means that the total level of nutrition could increase a bit, which in turn makes it easier to get compact plants. The clay complex ability to absorb the nutritions creates a form of root controlled long term feeding mechanism. This differs from normal fertilizers, where humidity and heat controls the feed - since with the clay complex its the roots themselves that gets whatever they need as long as its available to them.

Where to get Bara Mineralers clay granulate?

Europe and Swedens bigger producers of growing soil use Bara Mineralers clay granulate in their mixtures. Contact your local sales representant and inform them on how much clay you want with your next shipment. If you want to mix yourself, you can get the granulate delivered directly from the factory in 20 kg bags, Big Bags or as bulk delivery.

The clay from Bara Mineraler contains even quartz (about 20%). According to the board of work protection, all materials containing more than 3% quarts are classified as a material containing quartz. As an example, sand - is considered a quartz containing material.

What is Quartz?

Quartz is a mineral that only consist of silica (SiO2). This is one of the continental planet surfaces most common mineral. Quartz makes up 11% of the mineralogical composition of the continental planet surface. The mineral is often white-grey and half transparent. but can occur with different colors. Quartz is nearly everywhere. Sand on the beach as an example is nearly only quartz. Quartz is one of the main characteristics of our crystalline bedrock. Our bedrock consists mainly of such rocks as granites, porphyries, gneisses and leptites

Is quartz hazardous?

Quartz as a chemical is harmless. Contact against the skin has never caused any damage. However, breathing quartz particles and dust can cause silicosis. Crushed quartz is very dangerous since the quartz crystals have a sharp jagged structure that makes them fasten in the lungs. The quartz in clay however - has a much rounder structure.