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Diatomite
Diatomite

Variolite
Variolite



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Diatomite
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Variolite

Diatomite vs Variolite

Definition

Definition

Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance

History

Origin

Germany
France

Discoverer

Unknown
Unknown

Etymology

From diatom + -ite1
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated

Class

Sedimentary Rocks
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

-
Volcanic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture

Clastic or Non-Clastic
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color

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

Maintenance

Less
Less

Durability

Non-Durable
Durable

Water Resistant

Scratch Resistant

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Soft
Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

Garden Decoration, 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, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

-
-

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts
Artifacts, Monuments, 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

Diatomite
Metamorphic rock

Features

Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained 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.
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.

Composition

Mineral Content

Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

Ca, NaCl, CaO
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

-
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
-

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

16
1 7
👆🏻

Grain Size

Very fine-grained
-

Fracture

-
Conchoidal

Streak

White
White to Grey

Porosity

Highly Porous
Less Porous

Luster

Dull
-

Compressive Strength

-37.50 N/mm2
0.15 450
👆🏻

Cleavage

-
-

Toughness

1
2.3

Specific Gravity

2.3-2.42.8-3
0 8.4
👆🏻

Transparency

Opaque
Opaque

Density

2.49-2.51 g/cm32.9-3.1 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, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

Africa

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

Europe

England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom
Iceland

Others

-
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA
Canada, USA

South America

Colombia
Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula
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Diatomite vs Variolite 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 Variolite Reserves. Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth. Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance. 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 Variolite information and Diatomite vs Variolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Diatomite vs Variolite 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 Variolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Diatomite and Properties of Variolite. Learn more about Diatomite vs Variolite in the next section. The interior uses of Diatomite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Variolite include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Diatomite and Variolite, 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 Variolite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.

More about Diatomite and Variolite

Here you can know more about Diatomite and Variolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Diatomite and Variolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Diatomite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand and mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Diatomite vs Variolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors whereas, Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Diatomite is Soft and that of Variolite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Diatomite vs Variolite. The hardness of Diatomite is 1 and that of Variolite is 6. The types of Diatomite are Diatomite whereas types of Variolite are Metamorphic rock. 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 Variolite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Diatomite is 0.90 kJ/Kg K and that of Variolite 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 Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.