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Diatomite vs Cataclasite


Cataclasite vs Diatomite


Definition

Definition
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth  
Cataclasite is a type of cataclastic rock that is formed by fracturing and comminution during faulting. It is normally cohesive and non-foliated, consisting of angular clasts in a finer-grained matrix  

History
  
  

Origin
Germany  
Swiss Alps, Europe  

Discoverer
Unknown  
Michael Tellinger  

Etymology
From diatom + -ite1  
From the Italian word cataclasi  

Class
Sedimentary Rocks  
Metamorphic Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
-  
-  

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

Texture

Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic  
Clastic  

Color
Grey, White, Yellow  
Brown, Green, White, Yellow  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Non-Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
No  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
No  
No  

Stain Resistant
No  
No  

Wind Resistant
No  
No  

Acid Resistant
No  
No  

Appearance
Soft  
Dull and Banded  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving 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, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

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  
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork  

Types

Types
Diatomite  
Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite  

Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock  
Easily splits into thin plates, Is one of the oldest rock  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

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.  
Cataclasiste rocks mainly form by pressure deep under the Earth's surface, from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand  
Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz  

Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO  
Silicon Dioxide  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No  
No  

Types of Metamorphism
-  
-  

Weathering
Yes  
Yes  

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

Erosion
Yes  
Yes  

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
1  
3-4  

Grain Size
Very fine-grained  
Fine Grained  

Fracture
-  
-  

Streak
White  
Black  

Porosity
Highly Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Dull  
Vitreous  

Compressive Strength
-  
50.00 N/mm2  
39

Cleavage
-  
-  

Toughness
1  
-  

Specific Gravity
2.3-2.4  
2.1  

Transparency
Opaque  
Translucent to Opaque  

Density
2.49-2.51 g/cm3  
2.9-3.1 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.90 kJ/Kg K  
12
0.84 kJ/Kg K  
15

Resistance
Heat Resistant  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant  

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam  
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea  

Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe  
Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa  

Europe
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom  
England, Finland, France, Spain, United Kingdom  

Others
-  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA  
Canada, USA  

South America
Colombia  
Argentina, Colombia  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula  
Central Australia, Western Australia  

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Diatomite vs Cataclasite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Diatomite and Cataclasite Reserves. Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth. Cataclasite is a type of cataclastic rock that is formed by fracturing and comminution during faulting. It is normally cohesive and non-foliated, consisting of angular clasts in a finer-grained matrix. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Diatomite vs Cataclasite information and Diatomite vs Cataclasite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Diatomite vs Cataclasite Characteristics

Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Diatomite vs Cataclasite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Diatomite and Properties of Cataclasite. Learn more about Diatomite vs Cataclasite in the next section. The interior uses of Diatomite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Cataclasite include Decorative aggregates and Homes. Due to some exceptional properties of Diatomite and Cataclasite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Diatomite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Source of calcium and that of Cataclasite include As dimension stone, Building houses or walls, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.

More about Diatomite and Cataclasite

Here you can know more about Diatomite and Cataclasite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Diatomite and Cataclasite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Diatomite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand and mineral content of Cataclasite includes Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Diatomite vs Cataclasite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors whereas, Cataclasite is available in brown, green, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Diatomite is Soft and that of Cataclasite is Dull and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Diatomite vs Cataclasite. The hardness of Diatomite is 1 and that of Cataclasite is 3-4. The types of Diatomite are Diatomite whereas types of Cataclasite are Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Diatomite is white while that of Cataclasite is black. The specific heat capacity of Diatomite is 0.90 kJ/Kg K and that of Cataclasite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Diatomite is heat resistant whereas Cataclasite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.

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