As we prepare to commemorate those who’ve served our country and kick off summer festivities, let us also take a moment to recognize the minerals that help make these celebrations possible. From the pool to the cooler, here are some of the ways we use minerals on Memorial Day.

How We Use Minerals on Memorial Day

Memorial Day is meant for more than minerals. But many of the activities that make up the weekend benefit from mineral use in some way. You can find diatomaceous earth, perlite, and other natural elements in many of the products and production processes for maintaining everything from gardens and pools to making sure our families stay safe.

Gardening

A long, late spring weekend is the perfect time to get out in the garden. Diatomaceous earth, perlite, and vermiculite are all used as a soil amendment in any garden or landscape. Adding minerals to the soil has a wide range of benefits from maintaining moisture and nutrients to promoting healthy root growth. Check out our Harvest Hero Enhanced Perlite Mix that contains a nutrient-rich combination of perlite, diatomaceous earth and essential nutrients to boost raised beds, potted plants, and indoor gardens.

Paint

Doing a little DIY over the break? Diatomaceous earth helps extend the primary pigments in paint, making for a strong, shiny color that resists stains and cracking and dries quickly and evenly.

Fire Coating

Before you fire up the grill, you’re probably using products with a heat-safe coating. Vermiculite is one mineral used as a high-temperature coating, binder, or filler in a number of applications including insulation, construction materials, gaskets, specialty papers, and textiles.

Picnic Packaging

You know when you open a snack bag, you see a lot of space inside. All that air helps protect your chips or pretzels from becoming dehydrated crumbs within the packaging. This gas barrier is made up of minerals that help retain moisture for freshness but keep excess moisture, odors, or flavors from getting inside. Dicalite’s Unformulated Microlite is made up of vermiculite and deionized water used to coat flexible packaging films. The high aspect ratio platelets are ideal for forming nanosized barrier layers. MicroLite can greatly improve the gas barriers for common films like polyethylene plastic, polypropylene film, polyester, and polyethylene terephthalate.

Beverage Filtration

Before you take your first sip, marvel at the color and texture of your beverage. See anything floating around? Filtering a liquid requires removing the smallest, softest substances to maintain a clean finish. Even though some breweries and wineries choose to keep these elements in, others want them out. You want a filter that gives you the option. Some filtering aids are not as flexible. Diatomaceous earth provides the option for partial filtration to better customize the flavor profiles of the beer, wine, or other beverage of choice.

Pool Filtration

While you may opt for floaties in your beer, the only floaties in the pool should only be there for safety reasons. The crystal clear swimming pool you’re about to jump into has a filtration system. If that system uses diatomaceous earth, you’re naturally keeping that pool clean and clear.

Dicalite Helps You Celebrate Safely

Now you know what minerals could be making up your holiday picnic products. Celebrate the fact your food, beverages, pool, and garden are safely filtered and protected. Plus, you have an interesting picnic conversation starter.

If you’re looking for more eco-friendly ways to use these minerals, Dicalite Management Group can help. As an international industrial minerals company, we have a unique multi-mineral platform including perlite, vermiculite, and diatomaceous earth. Our team works closely to ensure you’re getting the right product for your needs. Contact us to request a free sample and speak with a knowledgeable representative to learn more.