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Diatomite and Migmatite


Migmatite and Diatomite


Definition

Definition
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth   
Migmatite is typically a granitic rock within a metamorphic host rock which is composed of two intermingled but distinguishable components   

History
  
  

Origin
Germany   
Southern Alps, France   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Jakob Sederholm   

Etymology
From diatom + -ite1   
From the Greek word migma which means a mixture   

Class
Sedimentary Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic   
Foliated   

Color
Grey, White, Yellow   
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Brown- Black, Dark Greenish - Grey, Dark Grey to Black   

Maintenance
Less   
More   

Durability
Non-Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
No   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Soft   
Dull, Banded and Foilated   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Countertops, Flooring, Kitchens   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

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

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
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   
Cemetery Markers, Jewelry, Tombstones, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Diatexites and Metatexites   

Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock   
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest 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
Present   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
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.   
Migmatites form by high temperature regional and thermal metamorphism of protolith rocks where rocks melt partially due to high temperature.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand   
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon   

Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO   
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, MnO, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable   
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   

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, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
1   
5.5-6.5   

Grain Size
Very fine-grained   
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Not Available   
Irregular   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Very Less Porous   

Luster
Dull   
Dull to Pearly to Subvitreous   

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Poor   

Toughness
1   
1.2   

Specific Gravity
2.3-2.4   
2.65-2.75   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.49-2.51 g/cm3   
Not Available   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.90 kJ/Kg K   
12
Not Available   

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam   
China, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia   

Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe   
Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo   

Europe
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom   
Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA   

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Diatomite and Migmatite Properties

Know all about Diatomite and Migmatite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Diatomite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Migmatite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Diatomite is Clastic or Non-Clastic whereas that of Migmatite is Foliated. Diatomite appears Soft and Migmatite appears Dull, Banded and Foilated. The luster of Diatomite is dull while that of Migmatite is dull to pearly to subvitreous. Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors whereas Migmatite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, brown- black, dark greenish - grey, dark grey to black colors. The commercial uses 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 and that of Migmatite are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.

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