Shilajit is mostly fulvic acid and other humic substances, and roughly a fifth of its weight is minerals, mainly calcium, potassium and magnesium 1. Together they make the dark, glossy resin that has seeped from Himalayan rock for centuries.
Here’s what fulvic acid is, which minerals you’ll find in the resin, why every mountain gives a slightly different shilajit, and how to choose and enjoy a good one.
What is shilajit made of?
Think of shilajit as plant life from long ago, pressed into mountain rock and slowly mixed with its minerals. A 2025 review that gathered the published chemical analyses found that more than 80% of its weight is humic substances, and almost 20% is calcium, potassium and magnesium 1.
The rest is a long list of smaller parts: amino acids (mainly glycine), fatty acids, plant compounds such as gallic and caffeic acid, and trace elements 1.
| Part | Rough share | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Humic substances (fulvic acid, humic acid, humin) | More than 80% by weight | The dark organic bulk of the resin |
| Minerals | Almost 20% | Mainly calcium, potassium and magnesium |
| Other organic compounds | Small amounts | Amino acids, fatty acids, plant phenolic acids |
| Trace elements | Traces, variable | Depends on the source rock |
What is fulvic acid?
Fulvic acid is one of three families of humic substances, the rich organic matter left when plants break down over very long periods 2. Chemists tell them apart by how they dissolve. Humic acid drops out of solution in strong acid, humin doesn’t dissolve at all, and fulvic acid stays dissolved at any acidity 2.
Its molecules are also the smallest of the three, at roughly 1,000 to 10,000 daltons 2. That easy solubility is something you can see for yourself: drop a little resin into a warm drink and it melts into a clear, deep amber cup.
Fulvic acid isn’t one single molecule. It’s a family of related compounds, and its exact make-up reflects where it formed.
What are “fulvic minerals”?
“Fulvic minerals” is a popular phrase rather than a scientific term. It usually means minerals held together with fulvic or humic acid, and in shilajit that pairing is real.
A 2026 study analysed 12 shilajit samples from different regions 3. Most of the metals were attached to small molecules under 10,000 daltons, the size range of humic acid and its metal complexes 3. Calcium, the most plentiful element, was present as a complex with lactic acid 3. So the minerals in shilajit aren’t loose grit; they’re woven into the resin itself.
Which minerals are in shilajit?
Calcium usually leads, followed by potassium and magnesium 1. The 2026 study also measured iron, zinc and manganese, along with traces of rarer elements whose pattern matched the natural geology of the source rock 3.
Does shilajit really contain 84 minerals?
You’ll see that number on many labels, but we couldn’t trace it to any study. A 2024 review of published analyses counted around 65 metals reported in shilajit 4. That list includes familiar minerals such as copper, but also lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury 4.
So a long mineral count isn’t the thing to look for. The review found most reported levels were within limits for herbal products, while some samples were above them 4. A batch lab test tells you far more than a headline number.
How much mineral is in a serving?
A typical serving is small, about 100 mg of resin. If roughly a fifth of that is minerals, that’s around 20 mg in total. For comparison, the NHS says adults need 700 mg of calcium a day 5. Your minerals come from your food; shilajit is something people take for the resin as a whole and the tradition behind it.
Why does every shilajit taste a little different?
Because every mountain is different. A 2026 study of 11 samples from Iran, India, Nepal, Russia and Kyrgyzstan found clear regional differences in plant-derived phenolic acids, which the authors linked to the local vegetation where each shilajit formed 6.
In other words, shilajit carries the fingerprint of its slope. Rock type, altitude and the plants that once grew there all shape its colour, aroma and depth. Himalayan resin is usually described as earthy, smoky and pleasantly bitter.
What has research looked at?
Interest in fulvic acid goes back a long way. A 2010 review described it as one of shilajit’s “carrier molecules” in the traditional picture of how the resin works 7. A 2014 review named fulvic acid and compounds called dibenzo-alpha-pyrones as shilajit’s key constituents 8.
Most of the modern work so far is chemistry and lab studies rather than large human trials. The 2014 review called for more well-controlled human studies with standardised products 8, and a 2011 review of traditional Indian use noted that shilajit still lacks systematic scientific evaluation 9. It’s a young field, which makes it an interesting one to watch.
How is raw resin different from extracts?
Shilajit comes in several forms, and they’re quite different things.
| Form | What it is | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Raw resin | The cleaned natural resin, nothing added | Least processed; you can see, smell and taste it |
| Standardised extract | Processed to a set fulvic acid percentage | Often sold in capsules |
| Powder or capsules | Dried resin, sometimes with fillers | Check the ingredients list |
| Fulvic acid alone | May come from peat or be made in a lab | Not the same as shilajit |
Many people prefer resin because it’s whole and simple. Our Himalayan shilajit resin is raw, with no fillers or additives, harvested in Nepal at around 4,800 m and suitable for vegans.
What should you look for when you buy?
Because shilajit forms in rock, it takes on whatever the rock holds, the good minerals and the unwanted metals alike. That makes testing the single most useful thing to check. Look for:
- A named origin, so you know which mountains the resin comes from.
- Raw resin with nothing added, so you’re getting shilajit and only shilajit.
- Batch lab results for heavy metals, ideally lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, from an independent, accredited lab.
- A clear serving size, so you know how much to take.
We had our resin tested for lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by an accredited EU laboratory, and the full figures are on our lab results page. A fulvic acid percentage without a named test method tells you much less. Home tricks such as burning or stretching the resin can’t replace a lab test either, as our guide to real vs fake shilajit explains.
How do you take shilajit resin?
The ritual is simple and quick:
- Scoop a pea-sized piece, about 100 mg, with the steel spatula. That’s roughly half of its wide end.
- Stir it into a warm drink such as water, tea or milk. Use filtered or bottled water rather than tap.
- Let it dissolve for a minute into a deep amber cup, then sip.
Most people enjoy it in the morning. Up to 2 to 3 servings a day is the usual suggestion, and you shouldn’t go above the amount on the label. If you take regular medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
How should you store it?
Keep the jar closed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. A jar keeps for up to 2 years. Resin reacts to temperature: it firms up in the cold and softens in the warmth, which is perfectly normal. If it’s too firm to scoop, hold the jar in your hand for a minute.
A 30 g jar holds about 300 servings, around ten months of mornings, and a 15 g jar about 150, around five months.
Try it for yourself
Fulvic acid and a fifth of mountain minerals, all in one small, dark spoonful. If you’d like to taste what raw Himalayan resin is like, our jar comes with a steel spatula for an easy daily serving and lab results you can read. Visit the shop, or learn more in what is shilajit, where shilajit comes from and what the research says about shilajit. Practical questions are answered in our FAQ.
This article is for information only and isn’t medical advice. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, take medication or have a health condition.
