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Travertine and Diatomite


Diatomite and Travertine


Definition

Definition
Travertine is a mineral consisting of layered calcium carbonate formed by deposition from spring waters   
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth   

History
  
  

Origin
Italy   
Germany   

Discoverer
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Italian travertino a kind of building stone, from Tiburs, adjective from Tibur (Tivoli), in Italy   
From diatom + -ite1   

Class
Sedimentary Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Banded   
Clastic or Non-Clastic   

Color
Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Red, White, Yellow   
Grey, White, Yellow   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Non-Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
No   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
No   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Fibrous   
Soft   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings   
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar   
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, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Paper Industry, Pottery   
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

Types
Not Available   
Not Available   

Features
Stalactites and stalagmites are formed from this rock, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock   
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
Colosseum in Rome, Italy, Sacré Coeur in Paris, France, Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy   
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
Present   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Travertine is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock which then undergo sedimentation. They are then subjected to high temperature and pressure hence forming travertine rock.   
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
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz   
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand   

Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO, Oxygen   
Ca, NaCl, CaO   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable   
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, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-4   
1   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Splintery   
Not Available   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Dull to Pearly   
Dull   

Compressive Strength
80.00 N/mm2   
23
Not Available   

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Non-Existent   

Toughness
1   
1   

Specific Gravity
1.68   
2.3-2.4   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.71 g/cm3   
2.49-2.51 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
1.09 kJ/Kg K   
8
0.90 kJ/Kg K   
12

Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

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

Africa
Not Yet Found   
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe   

Europe
Austria, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom   
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador   
Colombia   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Not Yet Found   
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Travertine and Diatomite Properties

Know all about Travertine and Diatomite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Travertine and Diatomite belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Travertine is Banded whereas that of Diatomite is Clastic or Non-Clastic. Travertine appears Fibrous and Diatomite appears Soft. The luster of Travertine is dull to pearly while that of Diatomite is dull. Travertine and Diatomite are available in beige, black, blue, brown, grey, red, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Travertine are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, paper industry, pottery 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.

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