Rocks break down slowly when CO₂ dissolved in rain water forms carbonic acid. Chemists represent it as:

CO₂ + H₂O ,<=> H₂CO₃

When carbonic acid encounters calcium silicate rocks (like basalt or granite) react to form diverse forms of carbonates. This is one of the forms rocks break down to form soils and liberate minerals that support life of organisms. But if we would rely purely on chemistry, the forming of soils could take a long time. Life cannot afford to wait and found another wait of self supporting.

In 1989  D.W. Schwartzman and  T. Volk compared rock break down in sterile conditions and in presence of soil biota. In presence of life, decomposed  up to 1000 times faster in presence of microorganisms. Biology produces enzymes and acids, creates a protective environments and speed up the process of rock weathering. In fact, soil biology weather rocks fast enough to feed the ecosystems and to compensate the washing by rain and wind.

As result of the activity of microorganisms, soils are able to create a nutrient bank (humus) that enable the successful development of more complex plants, which we call food. Fertile soils are successful in keeping the soil life functional at extracting minerals to feed crops.

rock dust test on maize, arsi Negele, Ethiopia june 2013

Ecosystems rely on these processes of bringing minerals from rocks to the biosphere. Rockin Soils encourage farmers to understand and use these natural principles to mimic biological systems, to reproduce soil microbes and use them to dissolve rocks aiming and get all fresh minerals. This allow farmers of any country to boost production of nutrient dense food while improving the soil fertility.