Abstract: A mineral composite consists essentially of a naturally occurring glacial deposit comprising not more than 20 weight percent Si, 10-20 weight percent Ca, 2-10 weight percent Mg, 2-10 weight percent Fe, 1-10 weight percent K, 1-5 weight percent Al, 0-3.0 weight percent Na, 0-5.0 weight percent Ti, 0-1.0 weight percent Mn, 0-0.5 weight percent P, 0-0.01 weight percent Ba, and 0-0.005 Cr; and wherein the mineral composite is in powdered form with a mean particle size of 2-20&mgr; and with a surface area of least of 0.8-1.5 m2/cm3 of the composite. Other additives may be added to the mineral composite to make it even more effective for treating soil. Methods of making and using the mineral composite are also described.

Abstract: A mineral composite consists essentially of a naturally occuring glacial deposit comprising not more than 20 weight percent Si-containing compounds, 10-20 weight percent Ca-containing compounds, 2-10 weight percent Mg-containing compounds, 2-10 weight percent Fe-containing compounds, 1-10 weight percent K-containing compounds, 1-5 weight percent Al-containing compounds, 0-3.0 weight percent Na-containing compounds, 0-5.0 weight percent Ti-containing compounds, 0-1.0 weight percent Mn-containing compounds, 0-0.5 weight percent P-containing compounds, 0-0.01 weight percent Ba-containing compounds and 0-0.005 Cr-containing compounds; and wherein the mineral composite is in powdered form with a mean particle size of 2-20&mgr; and with a surface area of least of 0.8-1.5 m2/cm3 of the composite. Other additives may be added to the mineral composite to make it even more effective for treating soil. Methods of making and using the mineral composite are also described.

Abstract: A mineral composite consists essentially of a naturally occuring glacial deposit comprising not more than 20 weight percent Si-containing compounds, 10-20 weight percent Ca-containing compounds, 2-10 weight percent Mg-containing compounds, 2-10 weight percent Fe-containing compounds, 1-10 weight percent K-containing compounds, 1-5 weight percent Al-containing compounds, 0-3.0 weight percent Na-containing compounds, 0-5.0 weight percent Ti-containing compounds, 0-1.0 weight percent Mn-containing compounds, 0-0.5 weight percent P-containing compounds, 0-0.01 weight percent Ba-containing compounds and 0-0.005 Cr-containing compounds; and wherein the mineral composite is in powdered form with a mean particle size of 2-20&mgr; and with a surface area of least of 0.8-1.5 m2/cm3 of the composite. Other additives may be added to the mineral composite to make it even more effective for treating soil. Methods of making and using the mineral composite are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for folding and crushing empty cylindrical cans such that after being folded and crushed the can end faces are essentially coplanar. The apparatus comprises a flat stationary anvil and a flat parallel reciprocable platen defining therebetween a folding compartment into which an empty can is inserted, an independently reciprocable creasing element or plunger slidably inserted in an aperture through the center of the reciprocable platen such as to enter and leave said folding compartment, and a drive arrangement simultaneously advancing the reciprocable platen and reciprocable creasing element into said folding compartment towards the can, the creasing element being advanced more rapidly than or ahead of the platen, and drive retracting the creasing element after the creasing element has nearly passed through the can without stopping the advance of the platen, and subsequently retracting the platen.