Agricultural (and garden) fertilizers consist of three main components indicated by the familiar three-number label; the percentage of nitrogen is indicated in the first number, phosphate in the second and potassium or potash in the third. Phosphate is essential for strong root growth, which results in the plants being able to reach water and nutrients from a larger volume of soil – resulting in plant becoming more drought-resistant.

In addition to the basic fertilizer, scientists classify eight micronutrients that are essential to healthy plant growth including boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel and zinc. Of these, the Berlin Deposit contains molybdenum, nickel and zinc, and in addition, manganese and iron that are added during the processing of the rock, could be recovered with the other metals so that Berlin could supply 5 of the 8 essential micronutrients for speciality fertilizers.

The Berlin Deposit is located on the western edge of the Magdalena River valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas of South America, constituting a ready market for local fertilizer.