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Sam Dan

09/02/17 5:32 PM

#104 RE: jb1965 #103

posted this on another site'
Stranius a wonderful summary of LDS holdings .I have sent
following multiple news releases re. a GROWTH enhancement for cannabis growers which should be considered by LDS management. With one proviso- the company ABR's zeolite which is the enhancer is located in BC Canada so cost of delivery has to be worked out. Not ALL zeolite has the enhancement of the ABR product so their proof of significant improvement could be an important cost saver. It's a lengthy posting-hope it is of interest.
Thursday, 06/08/17
Ashburton Ventures Inc. has provided an update on a recent site visit at the BC Bud Depot research and development facility on Salt Spring Island, B.C., site of a continuing scientific study of the effects zeolite and carbon on cannabis yields and quality.

Ashburton directors met with facility owners and management to view progress of cannabis trials. The owner of the 1,900-plant facility requested, based on the healthy appearance of plants grown with zeolite, an ongoing supply of clinoptilolite zeolite from Ashburton's Z1 Zeolite Mine near Cache Creek, BC. However this request remains subject to the final results of the study,

Biologist and plantation manager Albert Kasprowicz stated, "It's still early, but the plants amended with 15% zeolite appear to have growth rates significantly surpassing the greenhouse average."

Ashburton's Zeolite from the Z-1 Quarry in Cache Creek is believed to enhance plant health by increasing the bioavailability of nutrients and filtering contaminants from the soil. Plants with increased nutrient uptake and a reduced burden on their immune system focus more energy on growth and productivity.

Ashburton President David Gdanski stated, "The cannabis industry is taking note of zeolite's natural capacity to provide a competitive edge in terms of yields and quality. We're now compiling a client list that includes growers at the forefront of innovation in BC's cannabis industry."

Tuesday, 06/27/17
ASHBURTON RECEIVES MICROBIOLOGY RESULTS FOR CANNABIS STUDY, CONFIRMS INITIAL SUCCESS IN DECREASING BACTERIA IN MARIJUANA PLANTS

Ashburton Ventures Inc. has released data obtained from laboratory analysis at MB Labs in Sidney, B.C., of the microbiology of liquid runoff captured from cannabis plants involved in a study of zeolite and carbon in marijuana cultivation.

The data indicated significantly lower concentrations of bacteria, fungi and yeast found in liquid runoff from plants enriched with zeolite and a zeolite-carbon blend, as compared to control samples. The clinoptilolite zeolite used in the study is from the Z1 Mine near Cache Creek, BC, operated jointly by Ashburton Ventures and ZMM Canada Minerals Corp. ZMM Canada supplied the carbon.
"This is a wonderful data set," said biologist and project manager Albert Krasprowicz. "It illustrates how zeolite allows much cleaner cultivation. As growers, we typically use moist substrates and grow a dense canopy, but this invites bacteria that can lead to outbreaks and decreased production. With zeolite or a zeolite-carbon blend, bacteria levels fall dramatically. We anticipate healthier harvests from plants with a reduced bacterial burden."

"Data from control samples were in a completely different range," Krasprowicz noted. "With zeolite and carbon, we see 85% and 90% less of total staph and coliforms. We'll take a larger set of samples next week and if we can replicate these findings, it'll be a game-changer. Everybody's happy with a cleaner substrate and vigorous, resilient plants."

While trends did emerge from the data, Krasprowicz also noted some anomalies. "Dealing with composted coconut fibre, you would expect some data outliers. It's imperative that we collect more data to confirm the overall trend."

Laboratory analysis was performed by MB Labs in Sidney, BC. MB Labs also performed a detailed chemical analysis. Results are due next week.


Wednesday, 08/09/17

ASHBURTON COMPLETES PHASE 3, SUBMITS CANNABIS FLOWERS TO MB LABS, AWAITS FINAL RESULTS OF CANNABIS-ZEOLITE STUDY

Ashburton Ventures Inc. has noted that dried marijuana samples have arrived at MB Labs in Sidney, B.C., a cannabis analytics laboratory certified by Health Canada. Analysis of the marijuana pertains to the third and final phase of Ashburton's study which will measure chemical elements and medically-active compounds in the flowers of cannabis grown in zeolite and zeolite-carbon blends.

Phase Three is designed to indicate whether cannabis grown with zeolite from the Z1 Zeolite Quarry near Cache Creek, BC, produces a higher quality of cannabis than that grown in the absence of zeolite or zeolite-carbon blends. Lab results are expected by mid-August. In addition, total plant yields of dried cannabis will be weighed to determine whether zeolite and carbon can increase overall marijuana production.

Results from Phase Two of the study are still pending. A second Phase One data set from liquid runoff analysis has arrived from MB Labs and has been submitted to biologist and master grower Albert Kasprowicz for interpretation. News of these results is imminent.

Kasprowicz previously stated that these results could be a "game changer" for cannabis cultivation, should the second data set confirm the initial results that revealed trends of an unexpected magnitude. He noted a sharp reduction in fungal and bacterial pathogens coupled with a high retention of key nutrients in the root zone of plants potted with zeolite and zeolite-carbon blends. Kasprowicz suggested that these factors inevitably correlate to higher plant health and productivity.

MB Labs is currently conducting Phase Two chemical analysis of soil and leaf tissue. Results are scheduled for release in the coming weeks. A chemical profile of both soil and leaf tissue will reveal potential nutrient uptake trends. Of special interest is the effect of zeolite and carbon on the bioavailability of ionic elements to cannabis.

"Having monitored this study with close attention, we have reason to be believe the data could reveal distinct advantages to growing cannabis with Z-1 zeolite and T-Carbon," stated Tim Harvey, Chief Operations Officer of Ashburton Ventures.

Harvey continued, "For the greenhouse facility operators, visible differences - a lusher canopy where zeolite had been applied, for example - were a factor in their decision to order 20 tons of our premium Z-1 zeolite. They also took note of immense labour savings due to zeolite's water-retention capacity. There is no longer any question that zeolite offers benefits to marijuana cultivators. The question remaining is whether it helps the end customer as well. Customers demand quality, and the quality of marijuana is exactly what the lab analysis of dried flowers will explore. We'll soon know if yields, efficiency and quality are all positively impacted by growing cannabis with Z-1 zeolite and carbon."

Wednesday, 08/16/17

ASHBURTON ANNOUNCES INCREASED YIELDS OF MARIJUANA PRODUCED IN CANNABIS-ZEOLITE STUDY

Ashburton Ventures Inc. has released the analysis of the final weight of dried marijuana harvested from plants involved in a study of cannabis cultivated with zeolite from the Z-1 zeolite quarry near Cache Creek, B.C.

Plants enriched with a zeolite-carbon blend produced up to 29% more dry cannabis (in a 0.9% to 29.4% range), with an average per-plant increase of 7.8% compared to control plants grown in straight coconut husk fibre (coco coir). Plants enriched with straight zeolite produced up to 19% more dry cannabis (in a 2.3% to 19.0% range), with an average increase of 7.1% in total harvest yields compared to the control group average.

According to Albert Kasprowicz, BSc, "Each of the study's eighteen test groups and two control groups produced a cluster of six data points within a range. The average value of each data cluster is the key information, because an operation's total harvest is proportional to the average plant's yield. We can now predict with confidence the effect of ten distinct soil recipes on total harvests, when applied on an operation-wide scale. Two of those recipes stand out from the rest."

The study produced a scatter chart of data points measured in grams, representing per-plant marijuana yields in twenty groups of six plants each. The study was split between two strains, Meltdown and CBD God, grouped according to levels of enrichment with straight zeolite, straight carbon, or a zeolite-carbon blend mixed into a base soil of coco coir. To obtain data, whole plants were hung to dry for one week in a controlled-humidity environment before flowers were removed and weight measurements taken under Kasprowicz' supervision.

Kasprowicz stated, "Straight zeolite and zeolite-carbon blends gave us the biggest gains, each with an average production increase of over 7% consistent across both strains. Our next phase of research will attempt to push this number higher by adjusting zeolite particle sizes. We believe a 10% production increase may be a realistic goal. Our pending order for 20 tons of Z-1 Zeolite has been adjusted to include a blend of fine particle sizes specific to our needs."

Ashburton President David Gdanski stated, "Our study demonstrates a simpler route to the higher yields cultivators are after. In an industry where costs of production are high, typically exceeding 50% of the wholesale value of marijuana produced, a 7% or 10% increase in yields and revenue can equate to a 15% or 20% increase in net profit. We're extremely pleased about what our study says about the potential return on investment for Z-1 Zeolite customers in the commercial marijuana sector."

Ashburton currently awaits Kasprowicz' analysis of data recently released by MB Labs, to better understand the mechanisms by which zeolite and carbon act to increase marijuana yields.

Tuesday, 08/29/17
Promising results for growing increased potency!!

ASHBURTON ZEOLITE ELEVATES MARIJUANA POTENCY IN STUDY OF CANNABIS GROWN WITH ZEOLITE

Ashburton Ventures Inc. has discovered a positive correlation between Z-1 Zeolite and cannabinoid production in six out of six categories detected and measured in the Meltdown marijuana strain, as recorded in a recent analysis conducted by MB Labs, a Health Canada certified cannabis laboratory.

In the case of all cannabinoids detected, total potency increased as levels of Z-1 zeolite enrichment increased. Zeolite used in Ashburton's study of cannabis grown with zeolite was sourced from the Z-1 Zeolite Quarry near Cache Creek, BC, jointly operated by Ashburton Ventures and ZMM Minerals Canada Corp.

Cannabinoid analysis was conducted using UV light detection with ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography. According to Analytics Chemist Rene Bilodeau, MB Labs applies "extremely sensitive technologies to obtain the most precise and accurate measurements possible."

Biologist and cultivation research manager Albert Kasprowicz stated, "This data set validates our study, as it illustrates a meaningful elevation of cannabinoid yields - a doubling of medicinal potency - in plants influenced by zeolite. Cannabis cultivators are farmers of cannabinoids, so these findings are momentous."

The Meltdown strain is known for relatively low THC levels, higher levels of non-psychoactive Cannabidoil (CBD), and a broad spectrum of minor medicinal cannabinoids. Liquid chromatography preserves cannabinoids in their precursor acid form, which when subjected to heat, converts to a non-acid cannabinoid at .877 of the original molecular weight (e.g. 1% THC-A = .877% THC).

Highlights of the liquid chromatography analysis include the following divergences in cannabinoid production between plants grown in Z-1 Zeolite-enriched substrate and those grown in the control substrate of unamended coconut husk fibre:

a 2.1-fold increase in Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol Acid (THC-A), from 2.99% THC-A in control marijuana, to 6.29% THC-A in marijuana grown with Z-1 Zeolite enrichment;

a 2.07-fold increase in Cannabidiol-Acid (CBD-A), from 3.85% CBD-A in control marijuana, to 7.99% CBD-A in marijuana grown with Z-1 Zeolite enrichment;

a 2.37-fold increase in Cannabichromene Acid (CBC-A), from .19% CBC-A in control marijuana, to .45% CBC-A in marijuana grown with Z-1 Zeolite enrichment;

a 2.06-fold increase in Cannabigerol Acid (CBG-A), from .16% CBG-A in control marijuana, to .33% CBG-A in marijuana grown with Z-1 Zeolite enrichment;

a 1.79-fold increase in Cannabidivarin Acid (CBDV-A), from .014% CBDV-A in control marijuana, to .025% CBDV-A in marijuana grown with Z-1 Zeolite enrichment, and

a 2.26-fold increase in Tetrahydrocannabivarin Acid (THCV-A), from .015% THCV-A in control marijuana, to .035% THCV-A in marijuana grown with Z-1 Zeolite enrichment.

In the case of all detected cannabinoids, potency rose steadily as levels of zeolite enrichment increased through three increments.

In the case of zeolite blended with carbon (ZMM T-Carbon), potency for most cannabinoids peaked at medium levels of enrichment and then declined, revealing an approximate level of optimal enrichment. The data suggests that ZMM T-Carbon makes Z-1 Zeolite more efficient by allowing for near-peak cannabinoid production with a lower input of Z-1 Zeolite. With the exception of CBG, overall cannabinoid potency remained lower than levels reached with high applications of only Z-1 Zeolite.

Kasprowicz is currently analyzing MB Labs data including soil and liquid runoff samples to extrapolate mechanisms of action prior to designing a follow-up study.

Ashburton Chief Operating Officer Timothy Harvey stated, "We're extremely pleased with the key findings of our study. Not only did the cannabinoid output of the Meltdown strain approximately double with the addition of Z-1 Zeolite, but this effect is coupled with a 7% increase in the total dry weight of marijuana harvested, as previously reported. These results indicate that Z-1 Zeolite adds significant value to cannabis cultivation enterprises."

Graphed results of the MB Labs cannabinoid analysis from dried marijuana samples of the Meltdown strain are posted on Ashburton's website at http://www.ashburtonventures.com/news/lab-results.png. "
I have not heard back from LDS but only sent it a few days ago.