Manicouagan Sea Minerals / AEM Lab Inc

It all started 214 million years ago

The marine mud deposit operated by Manicouagan Sea Minerals extends over more than 15 km² and is located on the Manicouagan Peninsula along the St. Lawrence River in Canada. It is part of the composition of soil in the Canadian Shield which, 214 million years ago, cushioned the impact of a meteorite which left a colossal imprint on the surface of the Earth.

Subsequently, the igneous rock modified by this incredible force was naturally refined by approximately eight periods of glaciation. The movements of the huge blocks of ice on the ground caused erosion and the deposit of sediments moved by all this friction. The mineralogical and chemical composition of the Manicouagan Sea Minerals mud is partly explained by the erosion and deposition of sediments, transported by the Manicouagan River and the Outardes River to the Peninsula over millions of years.

The Goldwaith Sea which once harbored a unique and rich ecosystem slowly retreated 12,000 years ago, as did those glaciers that were hitting each other and changing the landscape we can observe today. Rocks broken into tiny particles were transported to the St. Lawrence River and piled up in layers of sediment for millennia. The formation of clay colloids 5 microns in diameter then formed.

Over hundreds of thousands of years, a mixture of fresh water, sea water and pore water has combined with the protective peat bog to produce clay soil rich in sediment and humic acid. The peat bog of the Manicouagan Sea Minerals deposit , rich in humic acids and medicinal plants, has filtered environmental pollutants for thousands of years and leaves a pure and unique marine mud. Humic acids promote blood circulation and intercellular exchanges and make sure to bring the global uniqueness of this mud.

A family history

In 1931, the Boulianne family, originally from Jonquière, arrived by boat from Petite-Rivière Saint-François and was left on the beach of the Manicouagan peninsula to colonize the North Shore of Quebec. During the daily train, horses belonging to the family have been observed to roll in the clay from insect bites or when they have suffered a shock, such as a cut or swelling. This simple instinct inspired the Bouliannes who got into the habit of giving themselves the same treatment. Clay-based treatments have been provided for countless generations in the surrounding indigenous cultures.

In 1994, Denise Saulnier, a descendant of the Bouliannes, had the idea of ​​marketing marine mud: this natural resource with surprising properties.

The extraction, factory and refining of the product:

Marine mud extractions are always done in the winter period in order to preserve and protect the external environment as much as possible.

Respect for the environment is one of the primary concerns of Manicouagan Sea Minerals , with a concern for sustainable development. The thick layer of bog is set aside in order to extract the mud as healthily as possible. Once the extraction is complete, the layer of peat bog is put back in place, for a "no trace" type extraction. It is important to note that the machinery used during the extractions is washed and disinfected beforehand.

Chemical hydraulic and mechanical greases are then replaced by vegetable fats and oils. Manicouagan Sea Minerals bears the seal of the Manicouagan-Uapishka World Biosphere Reserve for its quality as an eco-responsible entrepreneur .

Moving from an artisanal processing plant to a high-end processing plant in 2010, Manicouagan Sea Minerals invested in a 6,400 square foot plant.

The plant has separate processing areas with positive air pressure to prevent product contamination. Each refining has its own dedicated room, ie the sludge processing and refining room, the powder processing and refining room (sludge previously dried in a greenhouse in the sun).

It is important to specify that the product is not transformed, but well refined according to different regulations and according to the specific needs of the cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and health-beauty markets.

A laboratory, containing an airlock, has also been set up for the sterilization and manufacture of clay-based products such as the Terractive Minerals brand, distributed in more than 37 countries. Manicouagan Sea Minerals takes great care to maintain high quality and to ensure the absence of outside contamination.