AU701719B2 - Improved conditioning composition - Google Patents

Description

Apr,--.

P/00/01 1 28/5/9 1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): PLANTAGENET HOLDINGS PTY LTD DAVID ALAN HALL Address for service is: Invention Title: WRAY ASSOCIA-TES- 239 Adelaide Trrae- Perth, WAA 6000 B 67 C,= Attorney code: WR "AN IMPROVED CONDITIONING

COMPOSITION"

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me,- EDITORIAL NOTE APPLICATION NUMBER: 48027/96 THIS SPECIFICATION CONTAINS NO PAGE 1 -2- The present invention relates to an improved conditioning composition and a method for producing that composition. In particular, the invention relates to a composition which is suitable for use as a soil conditioner or fertilizer.

Through years of farming, erosion, overgrazing and leaching, many of the earth's soils are becoming depleted in minerals. Additionally, the constant assault on soils by agricultural and horticultural chemicals is tending to cause imbalances of the required nutrients in those soils. Thus, the soils are often rendered unsuitable for further farming and are sometimes simply incapable of supporting normal levels of plant life.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved composition which is able to act as a soil conditioner or fertilizer and which provides an active source of energy and minerals, together with a method for producing such a composition.

The present invention provides a conditioning composition including from 60% to by weight of a mineral source, from 20% to 40% by weight of basalt, from 9 992% to 5% by weight of a bonding agent, and from 1 to 20% by weight of a colloidal mineral source.

:The mineral source of the composition of the present invention is preferably a granite-like mineral source; namely, stone or rock of the granite-like family, such as glacial river gravel, feldspar, diorite, granite, basalt and the like, and which is capable of acting as a source of minerals, trace minerals or ultra-trace minerals, 9provided that they are substantially free of heavy metal elements such as cadmium, mercury, lead, arsenic, uranium and the like.

The mineral source will preferably be diamagnetically susceptible, being of negative susceptibility such that magnetisation opposes a magnetic force, and having a permeability slightly less than unity. In this respect, it should be noted that the basalt is preferably paramagnetically susceptible, being of positive -3susceptibility. However, it should also be noted that some materials, and in particular some granites, may exhibit a paramagnetic susceptibility more akin to basalt (for instance). If such a granite is used in the composition of the present invention, then the basalt used should be of diamagnetic susceptibility.

Conversely, if a particular basalt is found to be of diamagnetic susceptibility (which is uncommon), it would be preferred to use a mineral source of paramagnetic susceptibility.

Thus, the present invention also provides a conditioning composition including (in combination) a diamagnetic granite-like mineral source, a paramagnetic basalt-like mineral source, a bonding agent, and a colloidal mineral source.

Further, the present invention provides a conditioning composition including a diamagnetic granite, a paramagnetic basalt, a bonding agent, and a colloidal mineral source. Further still, the present invention provides a conditioning composition including from 60% to 80% by weight of a diamagnetic granite-like mineral source, from 20% to 40% by weight of a paramagnetic basalt-like mineral source, from 2% to 5% by weight of a bonding agent, and from 1% to 20% by weight of a colloidal mineral source.

e Preferably, the mineral source of the composition of the invention is granite, and *:the composition preferably includes an amount of colloidal granite to provide a Slevel of colloidal granite in the composition of from 1% to 10% by weight.

However, it must be appreciated that reference to a colloidal mineral source (and in the preferred form, a colloidal granite) as a separate component to the mineral source (again, in the preferred form, a granite) is not to be taken as requiring the separate addition of components. Indeed, in the crushing and milling of a suitable amount of the mineral source there will always be generated an amount of colloidal residue and dust, and thus the requirements for a mineral source and a colloidal mineral source may be met by the addition of an apparently single component.

Thus, in a preferred form of the invention, the composition contains about by weight of a crushed and milled granite, about 25% by weight of a crushed and milled basalt, about 3% by weight of a bonding agent, and about 2% by weight of a colloidal granite.

As indicated above, the mineral source is preferably a granite and is provided in a ratio of one-to-one as a combination of light granite and blue-green granite such as is quarried at Gosnells in Western Australia, Australia. The granite used is preferably low in silica, containing no more than 50% silica by weight, and preferably has an overall composition that includes the following (all percentages given by weight):

AI

2 0 3 12% Co 40 ppm Ca 4.75% Cr 79 ppm Fe 6% Ni 70 ppm S' K 3.5% Zn 100 ppm Mg 2.5% Mn 100 ppm Na 2.5% P 2250 ppm e Si 50% Mo 5 ppm Cu 300 ppm S 40 ppm In this respect, when mixed in the final product, the level of alumina (AI 2 0 3 in the final product preferably does not exceed about while the levels of calcium and iron are preferably such that their levels in the final product are at about 8% and 6% respectively. Further, the levels of potassium and magnesium 0 preferably are such that their levels in the final product have a minimum of and a maximum of 2.2% respectively, while the 2.5% sodium is a preferred maximum in the final product. The preferred levels of copper, cobalt, chromium, nickel, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, molybdenum and sulphur should be enough so as, when combined, the correct elements are provided in the appropriate preferred proportions in the final product. Those preferred S proportions are provided below.

Preferably, the basalt-like mineral source is simply basalt, basalt being a finegrained igneous rock, the basalt including the following components, and being provided as basalt such as is quarried near Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia or Werribee, Victoria, Australia (or the like), all percentages given by weight: FeO, 10% Cr 120 ppm CaO 9% S 100 ppm A1 2 0 3 5% Ni 80 ppm MgO 5% Cu 55 ppm Na 2 0 2.5% Co 40 ppm P 0.5% Mn 15 ppm 0.45% The presence of the bonding agent assists in binding the silica particles to prevent their interaction with fluorine in soils. In this respect, fluorine occurs naturally in many soils and has also been injected into soils by the reasonably widespread use of superphosphate fertilisers. Due to the presence of the fluorine in soils treated by the improved composition of this invention, the microbial activity caused by the composition (in part due to the pseudomonus microbes already in the soil) would be inhibited by the interaction of the unbonded silica with the fluorine. However, by bonding the silica the interaction of the silica with fluorine is made negligible and thus microbial activity is not damaged.

The bonding agent may be provided as standard grey cement. However, in a preferred form of the invention, the bonding agent is ground limestone provided in the form of talcum powder which is preferably low in magnesium (having, for example, levels as low as The limestone is preferably ground to a size Srange of about 0.075 micron.

Where the mineral source for the composition is granite, the colloidal granite included in the composition is preferably provided from the same source as that granite as briefly indicated above. In this respect, fine granite dust produced during mining and extraction of the granite from a quarry is collected and is provided as the colloidal granite in the final product. The colloidal granite assists in the production of humus in the soil. Humus is colloidal and to be complete as high quality plant food, humus requires a broad spectrum of essential colloidal minerals. These are particles that are immediately available in the product and which are water soluble. These particles are preferably in a polarised state to assist in preventing them from being leached away.

While it is not essential for the composition of the invention to include a catalyst, and indeed it has been found that the composition will function without the catalyst, a catalyst may still be added if desired. In this respect, the catalyst described in co-pending Australian patent application 81667/94 may be utilised in amounts similar to those mentioned therein. For this purpose, the contents of Australian patent application 81667/94 are incorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, the catalyst of Au 81667/94 may be modified and may be provided in the composition of the present invention in an essentially organic form, thus providing an essentially organic product.

Preferably, the composition of the invention provides a wide range of natural minerals which, as indicated above, may be obtained from a wide variety of stone or rock such as glacial gravel, basalt, feldspar, granite or the like, while meeting the various proportions as indicated below (all percentages given by weight). The figures in brackets are the preferred values: Carbon 0.1 to 2.0% Silicon dioxide 10.0 to 50.0% (29.6%) Aluminium oxide 1.0 to 16.0% Iron Magnesium Sulphur Potassium Sodium Phosphorus Calcium Copper Manganese Zinc Chlorine Nickel Boron Gallium Molydenum Chromium Cobalt Iodine Selenium Tin Antimony Tungsten Silver Bismuth Germanium Hydrogen Nitrogen 2.0 to 1.0 to 0.0 to 1.0 to 0 to 0.05 to 2.0 to 30 ppm to 50 ppm to 40 ppm to 0 to 0 to 5 ppm to 5 ppm to 5 ppm to 5 ppm to 5 ppm to 1 ppm to 1 ppm to 0 to 0 to 1 ppm to 0 to 0 to 5 ppm to 0 to 0.005 ppm to 8.0% 2.5% 2.0% 4.5% 3.0% 5.0% 8.0% 400 ppm 1000 ppm 200 ppm 40 ppm 30 ppm 100 ppm 20 ppm 50 ppm 50 ppm 20 ppm 10 ppm 25 ppm 5 ppm 5 ppm 2 ppm 1 ppm 1 ppm 200 ppm 100 ppm 5.0% (200 ppm) (400 ppm) (150 ppm) (10 ppm) (15 ppm) (10 ppm) (15 ppm) (10 ppm) (15 ppm) (15 ppm) (5 ppm) (15 ppm) (1.0 ppm) (0.8 ppm) (1.0 ppm) (0.36 ppm) (0.1 ppm) (20 ppm) 5**S Sc

S

S

Additionally, further additives may be included in the composition of the invention as necessary. In particular, it is envisaged that some uses of the composition of the invention would benefit by the addition of sufficient levels of phosphate to cater for phosphate maintenance where, for example, leaching in catchment -8areas is a problem. Ideally, this would be beneficial for broad acre agriculture where good phosphate levels are apparent and maintenance is required due to soil pH being lower (ie acidity is high). In this respect, use of the composition in areas where the potential for leaching presents problems is beneficial because the paramagnetic attraction within the composition prevents the release of phosphorus into waterways while it and the remaining nutrients remain readily available. Furthermore, the addition of phosphates (such as phosphoric acid) assists in reducing the bonding effect which holds the nutrients, thus assisting in the release of the nutrients at an acceptable speed.

Thus, phosphoric acid may be added to the composition at an appropriate stage, either as a replacement for added water, or in conjunction with added water where dilution of the phosphoric acid is required to control the levels of phosphate present. Preferably, the phosphoric acid is technical grade phosphoric acid, although food grade phosphoric acid may also be used. Of course, the phosphoric acid should be substantially free of heavy metals.

Alternatively, a rock phosphate or a soft rock phosphate such as that mined in o North Carolina, USA may be added to provide the phosphates. Such a rock may 9999 be added to the original milled materials in levels of from 5 to 50 (by weight), although levels in the order of 10 to 20 (by weight) are preferred. In this respect, the rock may replace a part of the granite component in the composition, unless there are high levels of basalt. In that event, the reduction would be equally divided between the two.

*Further still, where nitrogen and potassium may be required in the composition, such as for use in specialised agriculture such as potato farms, market gardens, or small crops in general that may be susceptible to leaching and pollution of the underground water and waterways, it is beneficial to also add potassium nitrate to the composition. Such potassium nitrate is preferably added in prilled (K 38.67%, N 13.67%) form to assist in enabling the product to remain stable for long periods.

-9- Further still, where the magnetic susceptibility of the granite and/or basalt used is comparatively low, even though the required elements are available and thus the granite and/or basalt supplies are otherwise suitable, an iron slag component may be beneficially added to the composition. Furthermore, an iron slag component is also beneficial where it is more economical to grade the fines with vibratory screens, rather than the rotary screens that will be mentioned below, as the iron slag will assist in holding the zeta potential due to the paramagnetic attraction, thus helping to polarise the finished product as it passes through the final stage of production.

Preferably, an amount of iron slag is provided in the range of 5% to 15% (by weight), although the preferred amount is about 10% (by weight), where, in the total composition, granite and basalt are displaced equally. In this respect, the amount of iron slag required will generally alter in accordance with the requirements for extra magnetic potential. However, care will need to be taken in order to prevent causing an imbalance of the composition due to the addition o of too much iron slag (ie. too much iron and calcium).

An example of an exemplary analysis of an iron slag that would prove useful is as follows:

S°

Fe 1 to 10% P, 2 0 0.01 to 0.25% SS0 2 30 to 40% Cu 6 to CaO 30 to 40% Co 1 to MgO 1.0 to 2.0% Cr 16 to 0.25 to 0.5% Mn 0.5 to 0.9% 0.5 to 1.5% Zn 10 to MnO 0.5 to

SO

3 1.0 to 2.0% Cd 0 ppm Such a composition will beneficially provide a valuable level of calcium and available iron as soil nutrients for plants, while the other elements are not sufficiently high enough to create an imbalance in the composition.

In a further preferred form of the invention, the conditioning composition is processed such that the range of particle sizes of the composition is in compliance with the following mesh requirements (within Mesh Passing 2.36 95-100% 1.18 85-95% 0.600 65-75% 0.300 45-55% 0.150 30-45% 0.075 20-30% :Iii These mesh requirements are designed to ensure that there are a number of release time intervals to allow nutrients to be made available progressively without overdosing the soil. Thus, the smaller particles release nutrients earlier whereas the larger particles continue to release nutrients after further time ~periods. Furthermore, the mesh requirements also ensure that the larger particles are large enough to hold their zeta potential to activate a paramagnetic blanket for the soil. This phenomenon encourages the root system of plants to spread more evenly instead of the tendency towards north and south, due to the effect of the poles. Indeed, if strong paramagnetic rock makes up at least of the product, gravity or shaker screens may be used in place of the rotary screen (referred to below) without the paramagnetic quality being disturbed.

The present invention also provides a method for producing an improved conditioning composition, the method including the steps of crushing a mineral source and basalt (the mineral source preferably being granite), classifying the crushed mixture of granite and basalt, preferably such that the crushed particles -11 meet the mesh requirements referred to above, subsequently adding a bonding agent to the classified crushed particles, and agglomerating the subsequent mixture with water, wherein the crushing, classifying, and agglomeration occur in apparatus geared to turn in an anti-clockwise direction (when facing where the product enters the machine), preferably at revolutions per minute in the order of to 30 revolutions. The mixing may be conducted in, for instance, a pug mill.

In a preferred form, the crushing means is a ball mill geared to turn in an anticlockwise direction at about 20 revolutions per minute. However, the crushing means may be any suitable apparatus such as a Barmac crusher, or a Simmons rotary cone type crusher. A relatively slow speed is required in order to assist in reducing the creation of large impacts which would produce heat which may spoil the zeta potential of the molecules and of the colloidal particles.

Preferably, crushed granite and basalt are classified in a rotary screen of a size such that all material is smaller than 2.36 micron. Again, the rotary screen is S: preferably geared to turn in an anti-clockwise direction (when facing where the product enter the machine) in order to assist in the polarisation of the molecules.

The speed of rotation of the rotary screen is preferably no more than revolutions per minute and is more preferably about 20 revolutions per minute.

~In this respect, polarisation is most important for plant life, and the nearer the north pole the faster the plants mature. Indeed, plants will naturally send their major root systems in the direction of the poles, with the strongest tendency to the north pole. In relation to the present invention, due to the composition being polarised, a paramagnetic blanket is formed ensuring the east-west polarity is V. just as effective allowing much larger plant growth, with faster maturity, effectively allowing plants to reach their biological potential The larger root growth ensures more organic matter under the soil, thus increasing soil fertility and providing more nutritious and disease resistant plants.

A mixing tank and feeding shute may be provided in order to allow the addition Rof the bonding agent to the crushed and classified mixture. Preferably, the -12bonding agent is added such that, in one form of the invention, an amount of limestone is added in the range of about 4 to or in another form of the inventionce an amount of cement is added in the range of 1 to 3% by weight. As indicated above, the bonding agent is used to bond the silica to assist in the slow release of the nutrients and to prevent damage to microbes. In this respect, the inclusion of granite containing high levels of unbonded silica can produce toxic substances in the soil if the soil has previously been treated with superphosphate or if the soil has reasonably high levels of fluorine contaminants. As also indicated above, the bonding agent is preferably limestone if an organic form of the composition is required.

The agglomeration step is preferably used to mix and semi-granulate the final product. Again, the agglomerator preferably also turns in an anti-clockwise direction (when facing where the product enters the machine) to ensure the correct zeta potential and to ensure that polarisation of the product is maximised.

This ensures that the cement mixes completely with the crushed and ground *:Ii granite and basalt for total bonding of the particles and assists in the prevention of lumping in the finished product to prevent damage to agricultural machinery.

In the preferred form, a high pressure nozzle is utilised to apply water to the agglomerator in order to supply water in a fine spray at an angle to the axis of rotation of the agglomerator of about 30 degrees. Preferably, this water mixes :with the material at a location about 1.5 metres from the entry of the product to the agglomerator. Furthermore, the water preferably strikes the mixing material on an upward motion, three-quarters of the distance of the upward arc. This assists in ensuring that the water mixes correctly and that semigranulation occurs. The water is preferably also polarised before being used in the mixing.

After having been stockpiled, the amount of product produced daily must be removed after the cement has cured, which is normally after about 12 hours.

The amount of water used for the agglomeration step is somewhat dependent Kupon the moisture content of the raw materials. As the water content effects the -13bonding ability of the cement and also effects the flow of the material through the apparatus there is a need to monitor the moisture content thereof. In this respect, it has been found that volumes of water in the order of 25 litres per tonne to 50 litres per tonne may be required for use as makeup water in the agglomerator, depending upon the initial moisture levels.

In the further embodiment described above where phosphoric acid, a phosphate rock, and/or potassium nitrate are required to be added for specialised uses, the technical grade phosphoric acid is preferably added during the mixing in the agglomerator where water is added through the jet. The phosphoric acid may be substituted for the water or, alternatively, a dilution of the phosphoric acid and water may be added depending upon the required phosphate level in the finished product. Preferably, an amount of 30 to 100 kgs/tonne of acid would be added or more preferably an amount in the order of 40 to 50 kgs/tonne.

0 o The phosphate rock may be added to the product at the entry stage of the :Iii agglomerator. The amount of phosphate rock added may be from 10 to 40% by weight, with a preferred value of about 15%, and may be added at the beginning of the mixing stage or added to the conveyor which cariies the product to the *0@S agglomerator.

*t The potassium nitrate may be added to the final product in a prilled, granulated :form is an additional agglomerator, again turning in an anticlockwise direction.

Preferably, this step is taken using final product that has matured to a point where the cement bonding of the silica is complete, which is often as long as five days. Thus, the addition of the potassium nitrate is preferably attended to after that time to minimise change to the bonding.

The amount of potassium nitrate added will be sufficient to satisfy the needs of the various types of agriculture that require the potassium and the nitrate, yet does not dilute the product enough to alter the beneficial structure. Preferably, an amount of potassium nitrate in the order of 40 to 100 kgs/tonne of product -14would be added, with a preferred amount often being about 50 kg/tonne. It has been found that levels less than about 40 kgs/tonne are generally insufficient to accomplish the required nutrient value, while more than 100 kgs/tonne is generally cost prohibitive and alters the product balance by simple displacement.

Finally, it will be appreciated that there may be other variations and modifications to the methods and compositions described above that are also within the scope of the present invention.

0 0

Claims (35)

1. A conditioning composition including from 60 to 80% by weight of a mineral source, from 20 to 40% by weight of basalt, from 2 to 5% by weight of a bonding agent, and from 1 to 20% by weight of a colloidal mineral source.

2. A conditioning composition according to claim 1, wherein the colloidal mineral source includes an amount of a colloidal granite to provide from 1% to by weight thereof in the composition.

3. A conditioning composition according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mineral source is selected from the group comprising diorite, granite, feldspar, and glacial gravel.

4. A conditioning composition according to claim 3 wherein the mineral source is crushed and milled. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the mineral source contains no more than 50% silica by weight. i

6. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the mineral source is such that the composition contains levels of alumina, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and sodium such that their levels in the composition are as follows (percentage given by weight): alumina no more than calcium no more than iron no more than potassium no less than magnesium no more than 2.2% sodium no more than -16-

7. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the basalt is crushed and milled.

8. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the bonding agent is limestone in the form of talcum powder of size range 0.075 micron or less having a low magnesium content.

9. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 3 to 9, when appended through claim 2, wherein fine granite dust produced during mining and/or extraction of granite from a quarry is collected and is provided as colloidal granite. A conditioning composition according to claim 9 wherein the colloidal granite is provided from the same source as the mineral source. I 11. A conditioning composition according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the colloidal granite is provided in the form of polarised, water soluble particulate material. o

12. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the composition additionally includes phosphoric acid either as a replacement for added water or in conjunction with added water.

13. A conditioning composition according to claim 12 wherein an amount of phosphoric acid is added such that the amount of phosphoric acid in the Scomposition would be in the range of from 3 to 10% by weight.

14. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the composition additionally includes phosphate rock or soft phosphate rock. 1 -17- A conditioning composition according to claim 14 wherein an amount of phosphate rock is added such that the amount of phosphate in the composition would be in the range of from 3 to 5% by weight.

16. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the composition additionally includes potassium nitrate in prilled form.

17. A conditioning composition according to claim 16 wherein an amount of potassium nitrate is added such that the amount of potassium nitrate in the composition would be in the range of from 4 to 10% by weight.

18. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the composition additionally includes an iron slag component.

19. A conditioning composition according to claim 18 wherein an amount of iron slag is added such that the amount of iron slag in the composition would be in the range of from 5 to 15% (by weight). 4 4*4o .o9

20. A method for producing a conditioning composition in accordance with any 4*99 one of claims 1 to 19, the method including the steps of; crushing a supply of a mineral source and basalt; classifying the crushed mixture of mineral source and basalt; adding a bonding agent to the classified crushed particles; and agglomerating the subsequent mixture with water, wherein the crushing, 9• classifying and agglomeration occur in apparatus geared to turn in an anti- clockwise direction.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the mineral source is granite.

22. A method according to either of claims 20 or 21 wherein the crushing, classifying, and agglomeration occur in apparatus geared to turn in an anti- clockwise direction at revolutions per minute in the order of 15 to 30 revolutions. -18-

23. A method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein water is added to the agglomeration step in the form of a fine spray at an angle to the axis of rotation of the agglomerator of about 30 degrees.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the water strikes the mixing material on an upward motion to achieve maximum mixing. A conditioning composition consisting essentially of from 60 to 80% by weight of granite, from 20 to 40% by weight of basalt, from 2 to 5% by weight of a bonding agent, and from 1 to 10% by weight of colloidal granite.

26. A conditioning composition including a diamagnetic granite-like mineral source, a paramagnetic basalt-like mineral source, a bonding agent, and a colloidal mineral source.

27. A conditioning composition according to claim 26, the composition comprising from 60% to 80% by weight of the diamagnetic granite-like mineral source, from 20% to 40% by weight of the paramagnetic basalt-like mineral S-source, from 2% to 5% by weight of the bonding agent, and from 1% to 20% by weight of the colloidal mineral source. "X

28. A conditioning composition according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the colloidal mineral source includes an amount of colloidal granite to provide from 1% to 10% by weight thereof in the composition.

29. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the granite-like mineral source is selected from the group comprising diorite, granite, feldspar, and glacial gravel. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 29 wherein Sthe granite-like mineral source contains no more than 50% silica by weight. -19-

31. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 30 wherein the granite-like mineral source is such that the composition contains levels of alumina, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and sodium such that their levels in the composition are as follows (percentage given by weight): alumina no more than calcium no more than iron no more than potassium no less than magnesium no more than 2.2% sodium no more than

32. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 31 wherein the bonding agent is cement, or is limestone in the form of talcum powder having a low magnesium content. i: 33. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 32, wherein fine granite dust produced during mining and/or extraction of granite from a quarry is collected and is provided as the colloidal granite. 4: 0

34. A conditioning composition according to claim 33 wherein the colloidal granite is provided from the same source as the granite-like mineral source. S- 35. A conditioning composition according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the colloidal granite is provided in the form of a polarised, water soluble particulate material. U

36. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 35 wherein the composition additionally includes phosphoric acid either as a replacement for added water or in conjunction with added water.

37. A conditioning composition according to claim 36 wherein an amount of phosphoric acid is added such that the amount of phosphoric acid in the composition would be in the range of from 3 to 10% by weight.

38. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 35 wherein the composition additionally includes a phosphate rock or a soft phosphate rock.

39. A conditioning composition according to claim 38 wherein an amount of phosphate rock is added such that the amount of phosphate in the composition would be in the range of from 3 to 5% by weight. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 39 wherein the composition additionally includes potassium nitrate in prilled form.

41. A conditioning composition according to claim 40 wherein an amount of :i potassium nitrate is added such that the amount of potassium nitrate in the composition would be in the range of from 4 to 10% by weight. o:oo p

42. A conditioning composition according to any one of claims 26 to 41 wherein the composition additionally includes an iron slag component.

43. A conditioning composition according to claim 42 wherein an amount of slag is added such that the amount of iron slag in the composition would be in the range of from 5 to 15% (by weight).

44. A conditioning composition including a diamagnetic granite, a paramagnetic basalt, a bonding agent, and a colloidal mineral source. -21 A conditioning composition including from 60% to 80% by weight of a diamagnetic granite-like mineral source, from 20% to 40% by weight of a paramagnetic basalt-like mineral source, from 2% to 5% by weight of a bonding agent, and from 1% to 20% by weight of a colloidal mineral source. DATE: 3 December 1998 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for PLANTAGENET HOLDINGS PTY LTD 9*