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Dacite and Diatomite


Diatomite and Dacite


Definition

Definition
Dacite is a volcanic igneous rock which is rintermediate in composition between andesite and rhyolite   
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth   

History
  
  

Origin
Romania and Moldova, Europe   
Germany   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Dacia, a province of the Roman Empire which lay between the Danube River and Carpathian Mountains where the rock was first described   
From diatom + -ite1   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   
Clastic or Non-Clastic   

Color
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey   
Grey, White, Yellow   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Non-Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
No   

Scratch Resistant
No   
No   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Vesicular   
Soft   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration   
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping   
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Source of calcium   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork   
Alumina Refineries, Animal feed filler, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Creating Artwork, Drawing on blackboards, Fire resistant, Gymnasts, athletes and mountain climbers use for grip, In aquifers, Soil Conditioner, To ignite fire, Used as a filter medium, Used as an insecticide, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper   

Types

Types
Footwall Dacite, Hanging wall Dacite, Tuff and Biotite Dacite   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock   
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Dacitic magma is formed by the subduction of young oceanic crust under a thick felsic continental plate. Further, the Oceanic crust is hydrothermally altered as quartz and sodium are added.   
Diatomite rock formed from the skeletal remains of single celled plants called diatoms. When diatoms die, their skeletal remains sink to the bottom of lakes and oceans etc. hence forming diatomite deposit.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon   
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand   

Compound Content
Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide   
Ca, NaCl, CaO   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
2-2.25   
1   

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Not Available   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Dull   

Cleavage
Perfect   
Non-Existent   

Toughness
Not Available   
1   

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87   
2.3-2.4   

Transparency
Translucent   
Opaque   

Density
2.77-2.771 g/cm3   
2.49-2.51 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
0.90 kJ/Kg K   
12

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Not Yet Found   
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam   

Africa
Not Yet Found   
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe   

Europe
France, Greece, Romania, Scotland, Spain   
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela   
Colombia   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia   
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Dacite and Diatomite Properties

Know all about Dacite and Diatomite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Dacite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Diatomite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Dacite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Diatomite is Clastic or Non-Clastic. Dacite appears Vesicular and Diatomite appears Soft. The luster of Dacite is subvitreous to dull while that of Diatomite is dull. Dacite is available in bluish - grey, brown, grey, light to dark grey colors whereas Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Dacite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Diatomite are alumina refineries, animal feed filler, as a feed additive for livestock, creating artwork, drawing on blackboards, fire resistant, gymnasts, athletes and mountain climbers use for grip, in aquifers, soil conditioner, to ignite fire, used as a filter medium, used as an insecticide, whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper.

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