Definition
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth
Coquina is a sedimentary rock that is composed either wholly or almost entirely of the transported, abraded, and mechanically-sorted fragments of the shells of molluscs, trilobites, brachiopods, or other invertebrates
Origin
Germany
European Foreland Basins
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From diatom + -ite1
From Concha (Latin)+ Coquina(Spanish) +conch(English)= Couquina (mid 19th century)
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic
Clastic
Color
Grey, White, Yellow
Beige, Buff, Orange
Durability
Non-Durable
Non-Durable
Appearance
Soft
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Source of calcium
Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
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
Diatomite
Sedimentary 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
Archaeological Significance
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.
Coquina is a sedimentary rock which is formed when billions of small clam-like seashell, called Coquina, or cockleshell are die and hence are deposited, buried and turns into a rock when pressure is applied.
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand
Apatite, Augite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Chlorite, Clay Minerals, Epidote, Feldspar, Garnet, Micas, Muscovite or Illite
Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO
CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Iron(III) Oxide, MgO
Types of Metamorphism
-
-
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
Coarse Grained
Porosity
Highly Porous
Highly Porous
Luster
Dull
Dull to Vitreous to Submetallic
Specific Gravity
2.3-2.4
1.10-2.24
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.49-2.51 g/cm3
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
-
Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-
Europe
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
USA
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula
-
Diatomite vs Coquina 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 Coquina characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Diatomite and Properties of Coquina. Learn more about Diatomite vs Coquina in the next section. The interior uses of Diatomite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Coquina include Decorative aggregates, Homes, Hotels and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Diatomite and Coquina, 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 Coquina include Building houses or walls, Construction aggregate.
More about Diatomite and Coquina
Here you can know more about Diatomite and Coquina. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Diatomite and Coquina consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Diatomite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand and mineral content of Coquina includes Apatite, Augite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Chlorite, Clay Minerals, Epidote, Feldspar, Garnet, Micas, Muscovite or Illite. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Diatomite vs Coquina, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors whereas, Coquina is available in beige, buff, orange colors. Appearance of Diatomite is Soft and that of Coquina is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Diatomite vs Coquina. The hardness of Diatomite is 1 and that of Coquina is 1-2. The types of Diatomite are Diatomite whereas types of Coquina are Sedimentary rock. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Diatomite and Coquina is white. The specific heat capacity of Diatomite is 0.90 kJ/Kg K and that of Coquina 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 Coquina is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.