Diatomite is a biogenic siliceous sedimentary rock primarily composed of the remains of ancient diatoms. Its chemical composition is mainly SiO2, with trace amounts of Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, P2O5, and organic matter. The mineral composition of diatomite is primarily opal and its varieties, followed by clay minerals, mica, kaolin, quartz, feldspar, and organic matter.

According to the diatomite industry standard JC/T414-2000, diatomite raw soil/purified soil can be classified into Grade 1 soil (SiO2 content >85%), Grade 2 soil (SiO2 content 80-85%), and Grade 3 soil (SiO2 content 75-80%). Besides being used for walling, what else can diatomite do?

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of typical diatom shells: (a) Cyclosiphon; (b) Rhizosolenia; (c) Navicula. China's diatomite resources, as a major non-metallic mineral resource domestically, have proven reserves (about 400 million tons) ranking second only to the United States and first in the world and Asia. The prospective reserves reach 2 billion tons, with 19 large and medium-sized diatomite deposits and several small deposits.

Our country's major large-scale diatomite deposits include: these are large diatomite deposits with a high content of diatom shells; the diatomite in this mining area has a single origin species of diatoms, with good continuity of the mineral layers, but higher contents of clay minerals and organic matter; the diatomite deposit, where the diatomite in this mining area has a high organic matter content and a large amount of volatilization loss.