Definition
Latite is an igneous, volcanic rock, with aphanitic-aphyric to aphyric-porphyritic texture
  
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth
  
History
  
  
Origin
Italy
  
Germany
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From the Latin word latium
  
From diatom + -ite1
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Volcanic
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
  
Clastic or Non-Clastic
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Grey, White, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Non-Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Rough
  
Soft
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Source of calcium
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Metallurgical Flux, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
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
  
Types
Rhomb porphyries
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Present
  
Formation
Latite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
  
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.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Alkali feldspar, Biotite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand
  
Compound Content
CaO, Cl, MgO
  
Ca, NaCl, CaO
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
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, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5-5.5
  
1
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Very fine-grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Not Available
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Very Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Dull
  
Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm
2
  
2
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Non-Existent
  
Toughness
2.7
  
1
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.3-2.4
  
Transparency
Translucent
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.49-2.51 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
0.90 kJ/Kg K
  
12
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Yet Found
  
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
  
Africa
Not Yet Found
  
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  
Europe
Bulgaria
  
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Not Yet Found
  
Colombia
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Not Yet Found
  
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula
  
All about Latite and Diatomite Properties
Know all about Latite and Diatomite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Latite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Diatomite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Latite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Diatomite is Clastic or Non-Clastic. Latite appears Rough and Diatomite appears Soft. The luster of Latite is subvitreous to dull while that of Diatomite is dull. Latite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Latite are an oil and gas reservoir, as a feed additive for livestock, metallurgical flux, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo) and that 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.