The main reason humic and fulvic acids are so different is due to the source of the raw material. There are 5 major sources of raw material to make humic and fulvic acids out of; Rutile sand deposits, Pete Moss deposits, Lignites or some times referred to as Pre-Lignitic Coals, Coal, and Leonardite or Leonardite Shales. These raw materials can all be classified as Humates. The big difference between all these products is how old they are and how deep they are buried in the earth. The younger and the deeper they are buried, the slower they work when applied as soil applications. The younger the raw material is most important to watch. Then the deeper the product is buried would come second. Let me walk through the 5 sources listed. Rutile sand deposits are mostly found in the Florida area. They are the youngest of the 5. Although they are not buried very deep, in my opinion, they are the weakest source of Humates available. Pete Moss deposits are all over the Northwestern and Southeastern United States. They are commonly found in forest type geographical areas. They make good potting mixes. They are second youngest and also found on top of the ground. You will know you are dealing with a Pete Moss deposit when the Ash content is constantly referred to. Lignites or Pre-Lignitic Coals are the most common sources of Humates on the market. This product is usually an over burden to a coal mine. There is no BTU value to this product, so the mines sell it as Humates. This product never made it to Coal, thus the term Pre-Lignitic Coal was formed. This raw source will extract a much higher source of Humic acid than all other sources. But, do not be fooled by Humic acid percentages. Higher is not always better. If you look at the highest percentage Humic acids on the market, you will also notice a large amount of sediment on the bottom of the barrel. This is the “Humin” portion of Humates. They have no value to the soil. They are great for compost piles. They will not dissolve or go into solution at any pH, unlike Humic acid and Fulvic acid. Remember to look for high Humin content in high percentage Humic acid products. The Dakota’s, Utah, Idaho, and Colorado are loaded with this type of Humate. Leonardite or Leonardite Shale deposits are the highest quality products on the market. They have oxidized past the coal stage and are buried extremely shallow. Their Humic content may not be as high as Lignites, but their Fulvic content is much higher. Make sure to find a fresh water deposit, not a salt water deposit like most Lignites. Many producers of Humic and Fulvic acids think and classify there Humate deposits as Leonardite Shales when they are really Lignites. Look at my definitions of Humic and Fulvic acids (Jenner 8 and Integrate descriptions too) for a better understanding of the above information.
