Frequently asked
questions

The price of Golden Bay Dolomite varies from region to region due to freighting costs, please call one of the team to talk about pricing in your area.

Dolomite should not be viewed as a lime product. Lime is quarried from many calcium deposits across New Zealand and contains Calcium carbonate only (as its primary mineral). Dolomite contains approximately 39% Magnesium (as well as 59% Calcium) and it is this very important mineral that is supplied when buying Golden Bay Dolomite.

A common question and the answers vary depending on any Calcium and/or Magnesium deficiencies you may have in your soil. Normal maintenance application is around 250kgs/Ha but if a deficiency is present then up to several tons /Ha may be required. This can be applied in one application or spread out over several years to fit budget. A soil test will be the starting point and Base Saturation numbers will tell the story, by contacting one of the team a Golden Bay Dolomite you can discuss if dolomite is suitable for your soil.

Short answer yes, like all minerals there is an optimum amount of Calcium and Magnesium required in any particular topsoil, excessive amounts of either is not ideal.

Because of the fineness of grind, our Golden Bay Dolomite typically releases over an estimated 18 month to 2 year timeframe. The fine particles in dolomite can be available to the soil and plants quite quickly (often seeing plant responses in as little as 6 weeks) with the coarser particles taking longer to break down and attach to the soil colloid.

Dolomite is not water-soluble but rather ‘root acid’ soluble so is not susceptible to leaching.

Generally, it is good to get a rain event to wash the dolomite off pasture and into the soil, only because of the slightly ‘gritty’ nature of the product, but no ill effects should come from stock ingesting dolomite.

If there is a need to supplement calcium and magnesium to your stock, then Golden Bay Dolomites ‘Micro-fine’ product is an excellent option. Micro-fine is made up of the fine particle dolomite and can be used as an additive to supplementary feed, dusted on paddocks or supplied as a ‘free choice’ mineral.

Rates are found on the back of our Micro-fine bags but typically range between 60 – 100 grams per animal (1 standard dairy cow) per day depending on their requirements.

At this stage our Ag dolomite is in powder form only but keep an eye on this space as work is being done to bring you a granule as soon as possible.

No, Dunite is a magnesium silicate commonly known as ‘Serpentine’ and completely different to Dolomite.

Silicate forms of magnesium do not build base saturation levels in soil.

Dolomite, a carbonate form of magnesium, does build soil magnesium (and calcium) base saturation levels very effectively. Used right this has a very positive effect on soil structure and plant growth.