This story was originally published by Grist with the headline The weirdest ways scientists are mining for critical minerals, ...

If you're hoping to improve your dirt, consider vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral. Vermiculite can amend your soil for the better or it can be used in a homemade soilless potting mix.

Of the mineral elements, the primary macronutrients (N, P, and K) are needed in the greatest quantities from the soil and are the plant nutrients most likely to be in short supply in agricultural ...

Rising carbon dioxide boosts plant growth but reduces key nutrients, weakening global food quality and crop nutrition.

Rare earth minerals, a term applied to a group of 17 ... which can produce toxic waste that pollutes the soil, water and atmosphere. Some rare earth ores also contain radioactive thorium or ...

Minerals are also an under-appreciated reason ... Trump officials say that the mere presence of U.S. workers on Ukrainian soil will deter Russia and its proxies because of the fear of killing ...