WHAT IS DIATOMACEOUS EARTH?

A diatom is a one-celled plant, so tiny that it must be magnified thousands of times to be seen. Diatoms take the minerals out of the water and build a protective shell. As they die, the shells drift to the bottom of the ocean or lake bed and form thick layers of Diatomaceous Earth (DE).P.F. Harris Manufacturing, Inc. relies on nothing but the best supplier for Diatomaceous Earth. Their mining operations have more than 40 years of experience and is known worldwide for using a grade and quality of Diatomaceous Earth that is extremely pure. It was important to have a consistent shaped diatom and no unwanted sediment. The shape of the diatom must be tubular with holes on the walls. It must be fresh water because the diatoms form a harder shell and are less fragile that those in salt water. Salt water deposits contain a mix of diatom species. These deposits shapes and sediments are inconsistent, making them unusable for our products.

P.F. Harris Manufacturing’s OMRI listed products are commonly used in sustainable agriculture. This product is used by many certified organic growers and livestock, poultry and dairy operations and are also used in certified Organic grain and seed operations throughout the world. OMRI listed products certainly fill the bill for living a green, organic sustainable lifestyle whether you are in business or for your personal use at home. Out of 600 deposits in the US only 4 are considered “Food Grade” by the FDA standards. Other food grade deposits may contain higher amounts of sediment and clay that make them less effective. Depending upon how the deposits were formed, clay particles may be present in sufficient quantities to clog the pores of the fossilized shells. If this is the case, the effectiveness of the Diatomaceous Earth is severely reduced. We have analysis of many other “Food Grade” deposits and are confident that we still obtain the Diatomaceous Earth for our products from the purest fresh water source. 

P.F. Harris Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade is a very pure form of Diatomaceous Earth used as an anti-caking feed additive 

All Diatomaceous Earth is not the same.

Diatomaceous Earth packaged under our Harris Diatomaceous Earth label comes from an extremely pure fresh water deposit of fossilized Aulacoseira diatoms created in the Miocene epoch. 

Why is this diatom so special? Its shell is made of amorphous silica (not crystalline- without a crystalline structure). Its shape and hardness in the fossilized form are important to how it works. Its hardness keeps it from dissolving in liquid. The diatom’s tubular shape and holes along the diatom’s wall allow it to absorb moisture, hence its use as an anti-caking agent. The tubular shape of the diatom gives it more surface area than other shaped diatoms. This means it has a greater absorptive capacity with the holes that open to the center and improved mixing and flow of animal feed. This product does not swell, does not absorb nutrients and poses no long term hazard when used as an anti-caking agent in your animal’s feed. With 89% (and often more) Silicon Dioxide plus numerous trace minerals, Harris Diatomaceous Earth is almost pure white when dry and appears light tan when wet. Other diatomaceous earth deposits often contains an excess of a particular mineral such as iron or a high percentage of clay giving it a darker color or a reddish tint.