Blue Mountain Minerals offers very finely ground limestone (calcium carbonate) and dolomitic limestone (calcium magnesium carbonate), which are the best products to raise soil pH and to help ensure soil microbes have a healthy environment they can thrive in.

The company’s products also help keep soil structure open so that water and air can move through it, improving water penetration, which allows for greater root development and nutrient uptake.

“Our finely ground limestone provides up to 640 pounds of calcium per ton,” said Christina Johnson, agricultural manager of the Columbia, CA-based company. “Calcium is a key nutrient that helps protect crops against many diseases including, but not limited to, blossom end rot, black heart, club root, and more.”

The limestone and marble quarrying industry of Tuolumne County dates back to the early 1850s.

Blue Mountain Minerals plant

“Many years ago, the site crushed rock primarily for architectural use and as feedstock to a local lime kiln,” Johnson explained. “It is a key ingredient in the manufacture of container and flat glass, animal feed, and is used to reduce pollutants from power generation companies. The focus on California agriculture is relatively new, only about 10 years, but now makes up approximately 25 percent of its current business.”

“Calcium is a key nutrient that helps protect crops against many diseases including, but not limited to, blossom end rot, black heart, club root, and more.” –Christina Johnson

That’s where Blue Mountain Minerals comes in. The company’s agricultural products are naturally organic as they come from the earth.

Blue Mountain Minerals lime

“They are crushed using only water to wash the rock and then returned to the earth as a soil input containing calcium, magnesium, and most other nutrients required by crops in trace amounts,” Johnson said. “Our agricultural products are certified organic through the state of California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). We provide the products in bulk and packaged form to California’s large and small organic produce farms.”

The current labor shortage and rising costs are the biggest challenges the company faces, but when it comes to supply chain issues, the news is far less dire than others are experiencing.

Haul truck loading at Blue Mountain Minerals

“We can provide products from two fully permitted mine locations with many decades of mineral reserves,” Johnson said.

Recently, Blue Mountain Minerals started packaging its products on-site in 50-pound bags for agriculture use.

“We can provide products from two fully permitted mine locations with many decades of mineral reserves.” –Christina Johnson

“This is a huge opportunity to get our products in the hands of large and small organic producers that may not need a full bulk truckload of 25 tons,” Johnson said. “Products are also available in one-ton totes. We are working with major farm supply retailers to have them readily available for year-round organic produce and farm production.”

Loading ag lime at Blue Mountain Minerals

With regards to agriculture, the company prides itself on educating the end user about the wide variety of benefits that come from using Blue Mountain Minerals’ products.

“Soil science will ultimately decide if they need it,” Johnson said. “The safety of our workforce is extremely important to us. We recognize our number one asset, besides the mineral deposits, is our employees. We value not only our employees but also the communities in which we live and work. We are a strong supporter of our local non-profit organizations and schools through donations and service.”

With regards to agriculture, the company prides itself on educating the end user about the wide variety of benefits that come from using Blue Mountain Minerals’ products.

Looking ahead, Blue Mountain Minerals’ agricultural sales growth will continue with the emphasis on educating those who interpret soil test reports and crop advisors who identify a need in the soil and marketing efforts that reach the organic farmer. 

“On the production side, our strategy for the future is to continue to upgrade our plants to improve efficiencies and throughput,” Johnson said. “I am extremely proud to be a part of Blue Mountain Minerals’ agricultural team that produces such quality products that [provide] so many benefits to our farming community by protecting and promoting healthy soil for California agriculture.”