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Diatomite and Tonalite


Tonalite and Diatomite


Definition

Definition
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth   
Tonalite is a coarse-grained plutonic rock consisting mainly of sodic plagioclase, quartz, and hornblende or other mafic minerals with phaneritic texture   

History
  
  

Origin
Germany   
Tonale, Italy   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From diatom + -ite1   
From Tonale Pass, northern Italy, + -ite1   

Class
Sedimentary Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Plutonic   

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

Texture

Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic   
Phaneritic   

Color
Grey, White, Yellow   
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Non-Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
No   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Soft   
Banded and Foilated   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

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

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, Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   

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   
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Dacite   

Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock   
Is one of the oldest rock, Typically speckled black and white.   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
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.   
When alkali feldspar is extracted from granite, it changes to granitoid and later, it becomes tonalite with quartz as major mineral.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand   
Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Manganese Oxides, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon   

Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO   
NaCl, CaO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable   
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact 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   
Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
1   
6-7   

Grain Size
Very fine-grained   
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Not Available   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
Bluish Black   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Very Less Porous   

Luster
Dull   
Subvitreous to Dull   

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Not Available   

Toughness
1   
2.1   

Specific Gravity
2.3-2.4   
2.86-3   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.49-2.51 g/cm3   
2.73 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

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

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

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

Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe   
Egypt   

Europe
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom   
Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden, Turkey   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
USA   

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Diatomite and Tonalite Properties

Know all about Diatomite and Tonalite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Diatomite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Tonalite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Diatomite is Clastic or Non-Clastic whereas that of Tonalite is Phaneritic. Diatomite appears Soft and Tonalite appears Banded and Foilated. The luster of Diatomite is dull while that of Tonalite is subvitreous to dull. Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors whereas Tonalite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white 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 Tonalite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.

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