Plant Available Silicon (PAS) for Agricultural and Horticultural Growth
Stoney Pinch Sands operates a high-quality silica sand deposit located at Renmark, South Australia, containing 99.01% pure SiO2. This deposit is an ideal resource for producing Plant Available Silicon (PAS), a vital substance for enhancing plant growth, especially in agriculture and horticulture. When finely ground, silica has a variety of applications, and micronized silica is growing rapidly in demand for pest and fungal control in horticulture. PAS is similarly experiencing significant growth due to its ability to improve the health and productivity of cereal and horticultural crops.
The Stoney Pinch Sands Advantage
What sets Stoney Pinch Sands apart is its unique ability to convert its pure silica sand into a soluble form (amorphous silica) at an affordable cost, using an innovative process known as Super Critical Water (SCW) technology. This process operates under supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure, producing high-quality PAS without the need for traditional energy-intensive methods. The process is currently covered by a Provisional Patent, with a pending claim for an Australian patent.
The Importance of Silica for Plant Health
Silica, often overlooked, is essential for plant health and plays a critical role in plant growth. The element must be present in the soil as monosilicic acid (PAS) to be utilized by plants. For many years, the benefits of silicon went unnoticed. However, it is now recognized as crucial for enhancing crop yields and resilience. Silica offers numerous benefits for plants, including:
- Increased tolerance to drought, frost, and root lodging.
- Stronger cell walls, which reduce water loss, frost damage, and lodging.
- Enhanced resistance to fungal diseases and pest attacks due to hardened epidermal cells.
- Improved growth in high salinity areas.
How Plant Available Silica (PAS) is Made
Stoney Pinch Sands' resource consists of nearly pure silicon dioxide (99%) that can be processed into PAS through a unique, sustainable method. The traditional method of converting crystalline silica into soluble silica involves "calcination," a high-energy process that requires expensive rotary kilns. However, Stoney Pinch Sands uses physicochemical processing through SCW, which operates under supercritical temperature and pressure conditions. This novel method was inspired by a historical document prepared for the US Navy by Rice and Abrishamian, which detailed how to convert crystalline silica into its amorphous form under supercritical conditions.
The end product, ortho-silicic acid (H₄SiO₄), is essential for delivering silicon to plant cells, promoting healthy growth and providing benefits not only for plants but also for humans and animals.
Beyond Agriculture: The Future of Silica in Disease Control
In addition to its role in plant nutrition, silica has been identified as having a significant role in organic disease control. Studies have shown that silica-based products may have a broad range of applications in both agriculture and medical fields, including:
- Fungicide and Insecticide for pest and disease control in agriculture.
- Antibacterial agents for medical and veterinary use, including wound treatment and sterilization.
- Virus treatment for medical applications.
- Surface treatment for public spaces, including restaurants and homes.
- Termite protection in timber.
The growing resistance to chemical pesticides and antibiotics, combined with increasing global concerns about pathogenic threats, positions silica as a promising and safe alternative for disease management. Research indicates that silica’s action against fungal pathogens and insects holds great potential in addressing these challenges in agriculture and beyond.
Resources and Mineral Leases
Stoney Pinch Sands holds the mineral lease for the silica deposit ML 6464, located at Cuttle Street, Renmark West, South Australia. This deposit is a part of the Loxton-Parilla Sands region and is known for its high-quality silica content. The total evaluated reserve of this resource is approximately 427,000 tonnes, which includes 376,000 tonnes of high-quality indicated resource.
In addition, Stoney Pinch Sands holds the mineral lease EML 6490 for a limestone deposit at Pike River, near Paringa, SA.
Provisional Patent
Stoney Pinch Sands has filed a provisional patent for the physicochemical process that converts crystalline or partially crystalline silica into Plant Available Silica (PAS). This method represents a significant advancement in the production of PAS and its potential applications in agriculture, horticulture, and beyond.
When it comes to health risks not all Silica is the same
The very mention of silica immediately raises concerns. In line with modern working practices all aspects of production, including dust control, both within and outside of the processing facilities will be subject to continuous monitoring and regulation. In regards dust control specifically most of the production process will take place inside sealed machinery and equipment.
Silicosis disease in workers caused by respirable crystalline silica has long been a Principal Mining Hazard, but recent concerns raised about cutting, polishing, or grinding artificial stone has brought this issue into sharp focus.
Our material can be categorised as follows:
- Feed stock is an ancient beach sand (pre-milled crystalline silica (SiO2) – has low health risk.
- Final product is micronised Amorphous Silica (H4SiO4) fertilizer granules – has low health risk.
Even so controls for the mitigation risk of silicosis in workers are:
- Health surveillance of workers
- Active air quality monitoring
- Milling (or crushing) carried out in a completely sealed dust free system