We use these. Highly recommend them if you drink Reverse Osmosis or distilled water.
here's an answer from the amazon q&a. they basically say it's readily absorbed since it's ionic. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMUWLK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3
Q: What are the differences between these trace minerals and plant based trace minerals? Are they both ionic? Is either more absorbable or effective?
A: First off, a plant requires minerals in their ionic form. These ionic minerals enter through a plant's root system from the soil surrounding it. Remember, soil is made up of water, air, pieces of rock, and humus, which is a mixture of decomposed plants and animals. The top layer of soil is called topsoil and is the most fertile because of the humus, and it can take 850 years to form just 2 cm of this soil. This is the layer that we grow our plants in, and it has many properties, including mineral composition which can vary depending on where the soil is formed. A plant takes elements from the soil, but when a mineral makes an attempt to enter the root system that is not in its ionic form, the plant puts this element through a process in the exterior of the root that links it to a carbon molecule, and then breaks it down into its smallest form: an ion. This process must occur before that mineral can pass through the plant's xylem. The xylem is basically the vascular system of a plant that carries water and dissolved minerals to the remainder of the plant, as well as providing physical support for that plant.
An element is an element is an element; only the size of the element is really what is important when it comes to the body's ability to use it, and how quickly it can be used, so absorption of minerals depends on what your individual need is. For instance, we all perspire at various levels, and each time we perspire, we lose minerals. This means that if I perspire more than you, I may need more minerals than you do. Perspiration is only one way we lose minerals, so given all the ways we lose minerals, and the varying rate each of us lose them, absorption of minerals will be different for each of us too.
As a rule of thumb, ionic minerals are readily absorbed by the body because they don't have to be broken down first. Other types of minerals must first be broken down before the body can utilize them. Colloidal minerals are minerals that are derived from ancient sea deposits, petrified vegetation, or humus, that are then mined and processed. By it's definition, a colloid is a group of molecules suspended in a solution. Because of their size, colloidal minerals are unable to penetrate a semi-permeable membrane, such as a cell wall, and must also be broken down by the body before they can be assimilated.
An ionic mineral is defined as an atom or group of atoms with either a positive or negative charge, meaning they conduct electrical impulses. Within the body, they keep organs such as the brain and heart functioning. Because an ionic mineral is the smallest form of a mineral, it the easiest form for the body to assimilate, because it is small enough to pass through cell walls.
Plant minerals are usually from a colloidal source; the minerals in the ConcenTrace are 100% ionic minerals.
By Earth's Pure Nutrition on May 29, 2018
I haven't heard of this before, I appreciate the tip! It also seems like "mineral drops" are fairly cheep if done on the small scale:
https://www.amazon.com/Trace-Minerals-Research-Concentrace-Mineral/dp/B000AMUWLK
I'm skeptical about Superthrive as well. I'm still trying it out to see if I notice any results, but my bonsai retailer swears by it so I'm not sure either.