Diatomite

Trachyte

Diatomite and Trachyte

Diatomite

Trachyte

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Definition

Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth

Trachyte is a grey fine-grained volcanic rock which mainly consists of alkali feldspar

History

Origin

Germany

Discoverer

Unknown

Alexandre Brongniart and René Just Haüy

Etymology

From diatom + -ite1

From Greek trakhus rough’ or trakhutēs roughness

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Clastic or Non-Clastic

Aphanitic to Porphyritic

Color

Grey, White, Yellow

Black, Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Grey, Light to Dark Grey, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Non-Durable

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Soft

Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, 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

Industry

Construction Industry

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

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

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

Diatomite

Felsic volcanic rock

Features

Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

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.

Trachyte is an igneous volcanic rock with an aphanitic to porphyritic texture. It is the volcanic equivalent of syenite rock and forms as a result of magmatic differentiation.

Composition

Mineral Content

Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand

Augite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Quartz

Compound Content

Ca, NaCl, CaO

Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

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

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

1 7

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Grain Size

Very fine-grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Streak

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Dull

Metallic

Compressive Strength

-150.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

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Cleavage

Toughness

Specific Gravity

2.3-2.42.7

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.49-2.51 g/cm³2.43-2.45 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.90 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

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

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

USA

South America

Colombia

Brazil, Chile

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

All about Diatomite and Trachyte Properties

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