Leonardite is a soft waxy, black or brown, shiny, vitreous mineraloid that is easily soluble in alkaline solutions. It is an oxxidation product of lignite, associated with near-surface. It is a rich source of humic acid (up to 90%) and is used as a soil conditioner, as a stabilizer for ion-exchange resins in water treatment, in the remediation of polluted environments and as a drilling additive. It was named after A.
G. Leonard, first director of the North Dakota Geological Survey, in recognition of his work on these deposits.
Leonardite is found associated with near surface lignite deposits. They are thought to have been formed by the oxidation of the lignite, an interpretation supported by chemical analysis of leonardite compared to lignite.
Leonardite was first described from North Dakota and is found associated with virtually all the lignite deposits in the state. Leonardite has also been described worldwide from deposits of lignite or sub-bituminous coals
As soil conditioner it is used to condition soils either by applying it directly to the land, or by providing a source of humic acid or potassium humate for application. The carbon geosequestration potential of Leonardite, particularly to rapidly accelerate microbial action to lock up and retain carbon in soils, provides
the basis for extensive research in Victoria on the organic fertilising aspect of brown coal.
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