Definition
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth
  
Pantellerite is a peralkaline rhyolite. It has a higher iron and lower aluminium composition than comendite
  
History
  
  
Origin
Germany
  
Strait of sicily
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From diatom + -ite1
  
From Pantelleria, a volcanic island in the Strait of Sicily
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic
  
Eutaxitic
  
Color
Grey, White, Yellow
  
Dark Greenish - Grey
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Non-Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Soft
  
Layered and Foliated
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Not Yet Used
  
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Not Yet Used
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Not Yet Used
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Source of calcium
  
NA
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts, Sculpture
  
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
  
Creating Artwork
  
Types
Not Available
  
Pantelleritic Ignimbrite
  
Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock
  
High Fe content
  
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
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Absent
  
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.
  
Pantellerite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand
  
Amphibole, Feldspar, Ilmenite
  
Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO
  
Al, Fe
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
1
  
6-7
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Not Available
  
Sub-conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
Unknown
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Dull
  
Earthy
  
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Conchoidal
  
Toughness
1
  
2
  
Specific Gravity
2.3-2.4
  
Not Available
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Translucent to 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
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
  
China, India
  
Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria
  
Europe
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom
  
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Colombia
  
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula
  
Central Australia, Queensland, Western Australia
  
All about Diatomite and Pantellerite Properties
Know all about Diatomite and Pantellerite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Diatomite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Pantellerite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Diatomite is Clastic or Non-Clastic whereas that of Pantellerite is Eutaxitic. Diatomite appears Soft and Pantellerite appears Layered and Foliated. The luster of Diatomite is dull while that of Pantellerite is earthy. Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors whereas Pantellerite is available in dark greenish - grey colors. The commercial uses of Diatomite and Pantellerite 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.