Rock Dust (forum)

Violet_Cactus starts with ...
Anyone know where to obtain rock dust, preferably in bulk, in or around Melbourne or the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria?

Time: 11th June 2011 6:58pm

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About the Author VioletCactus1
 
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Wayne says...
Hello Violet

Is this the material you refer to
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s350770.htm

This is an old link but if this is what you are looking for it is called crusher dust, from a quarry. Check with your local ready mix concrete supplier as they will have a quarry to supply you with this.

Be reminded that if you expect what the link says [provided I'm guessing right] it is going to depend entirely on what sort of rock the quarry crushes. For plant nutrients I think basalt [blue dust] better than granite [pinkish dust] but I could well be wrong.

Cost wise, I have just paid $28 a tonne for what we call "man sand" which is very fine crusher dust delivered as a 12 tonne load. Spread across the yard as a top dressing it is absolutely brilliant, the lawn thrives on it



Time: 11th June 2011 7:35pm

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About the Author Wayne
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Wayne says...
This is my front yard at the moment Violet, the lawn grass coming through is as green as and surprisingly, no weeds following
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 12th June 2011 10:50am

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About the Author Wayne
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amanda says...
My lawn loves it too Wayne :) The locals here call it cracker dust...I love using it for our pathways - it's perfect in so many ways.
It can be quite alkaline (which may be why lawns respond so well to it - as they can get quite acid over time) as I don't want to change the pH of my garden soil - I throw it in my compost bin before using it on them?

ps - I get it from my bulk garden supplier Violet...

Time: 12th June 2011 12:33pm

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Original Post was last edited: 12th June 2011 12:34pm

About the Author amanda19
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Rebecca says...
Southport garden - side of house & lawn in continual shade. I have a great crop of moss I mowed ova yesterday. Would my lawn respond to some dust I have or should I wait till it warms up?
Thank you..

Time: 12th June 2011 1:03pm

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About the Author 72
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Violet_Cactus says...
Thanks Wayne and Amanda. I know the gardeners in SA are lucky enough to have "Fishers Creek Rock Dust" readily available, those in WA have "Green Life Soil" and in Queensland they have Alroc from "Ausmin". But I can't seem to find a supplier of anything under the name of 'rock dust' in Victoria.
I will try the local bulk garden suppliers/ready mix concrete suppliers as you guys suggested.

Time: 12th June 2011 8:59pm

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Ricardo says...
Try munash. think they are based in ballarat but may have a distributors in melb metro area.

Time: 13th June 2011 12:08am

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Violet_Cactus says...
Thanks Ricardo!

Time: 14th June 2011 4:54pm

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Mike says...
Min + is the name of the crushed vesicular basalt 'rock flour' from Innisfail. I put around 200kg around my yard in the last few years but I don't think it lives up to the testimonials.It still seems to have helped my highly weathered infertile and structureless metamorphic soil.

Time: 14th June 2011 5:36pm

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Wayne says...
I to have reservations about it Mike, the product I proposed sets firm, convert it to dust it would set like concrete with moisture. So one would need to be carefull when using it.

Time: 14th June 2011 5:59pm

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About the Author Wayne
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Mike says...
I put it around pretty thinly over a long period of time and especially on mulch and it didn't go like concrete. I would go more than 250g/m2 because sometimes the plants complain.Would not do it any more because I could not see any dramatic improvements.My soil is lacking micronutrients so I mixed it with real micronutrients,dolomite and Blood and bone before spreading it.

Time: 14th June 2011 6:17pm

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Mike says...
Sorry would not go over 250g/m2 per year

Time: 14th June 2011 6:19pm

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amanda says...
Weeds still manage to grow thru my paths and they are hard and thick!? Rebecca - I am not sure - maybe Wayne...? (My buffaloe lawn loves invading the paths I have made with it - but I don't spread it, as such, as I worry about my ride on mower blades - it's like a hoover and sucks up stones etc...)

Time: 14th June 2011 7:02pm

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About the Author amanda19
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grub says...
grub says...
you can try this .i just put it on my citrus trees so i cant give you any feed back yet http://www.gardenersdirect.com.au/commerce/search/products/?product_id=zapg001&merchant_id=2135


Time: 15th June 2011 7:21pm

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Chris says...
Grub, nothing wrong with adding zeolite, but it really serves a different purpose, compared with rock dust. More in the category of perlite and vermiculite.
It does not contain the micro nutrients of rock dust.

Time: 15th June 2011 9:12pm

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Original Post was last edited: 15th June 2011 9:13pm

About the Author Chris
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Jimmy says...
Shades of green fertiser is sold by Cith farmers, very expensive but not sure if its worth it.

Mostly rock dust accordin to the label.

Time: 16th June 2011 10:39am

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Charles cant spell says...
Could be old info but worth a try if you want lots -
Granite quarry fines
Unlimited quantity
Men of The Trees (Inc.)
Barrie Oldfield
3 Over Ave., Lesmurdie, WA 6076, Australia
618 9291 6619 or fax: 618 9291 6027
contact@menofthetrees.com.a
www.menofthetrees.com.au



Time: 16th June 2011 2:09pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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Sim says...
Violet,

We live on the mornington peninsula and get it from the diggers club in dromana.

We also buy the munash rockdust same as ricardo. I believe you can get it from many nurseries around melbourne. They have a list on their website www.rockdust.com.au

Time: 23rd December 2011 11:03pm

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About the Author Sim
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Reuben says...
I've been trying to track down some rock dust in the Melbourne area over the last couple of days, so I thought I would post my findings here.

The cheapest/best option that I've found is Alroc. The only place that stocks them in Victoria is Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies. Alroc mineral fertiliser mix no. 3 costs $22.50 (including GST) for a 25kg bag.

There is a company called Munash, based in Ballarat, who also make rock dust, but it seems they spent more money on pretty packaging so they can charge a higher price. An 8kg tub of Munash retails for around $25 - $30.

You can also find "stone dust" at a lot of concrete/soil/sand supply places for something like $15 / 30kg bag. Some of it is made from bluestone / basalt, so it's probably better than nothing.

Time: 1st July 2014 3:25pm

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About the Author Reuben
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Upper mountains says...
Rock dust is adding minerals to the soil. Shouldn't one get an (expensive) soil test first to know which minerals are missing? Then you would know if this particular rock dust is what you need.
I don't know with micronutritients, if it is not better getting a soil test.

Time: 1st July 2014 5:11pm

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About the Author loewenzahn
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Heartfire says...
Hi All,

Fishers Creek Rock Dust is available in most if not all states..

Known as 'Fishers Creek..' in SA and I think one other state, but I don't remember which one.. found in some Mitre 10 Stores (incl Unley, SA).

It's sold in Qld (where is produced in Innisfail), NSW and maybe Victoria under the name 'Minplus'.

Exactly the same product. Here's their site: www.minplus.com.au

Hope this helps.. In my opinion this is the best rock dust on the market. Crushed volcanic rock from an ancient plant derived source, so I've been told. I heard a talk by the supplier in Qld in 1996, and contacted him again a few years ago.

Cheers, John


Time: 27th August 2014 1:53pm

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About the Author Heartfire
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