Distribution, origin, application and prospecting prospect analysis of diatomite in the world

This paper is the result of mineral exploration engineering.

Objective Diatomaceous earth is a mineral formed by single−celled organisms such as dead diatoms through deposition and a series of geological processes. It belongs to sedimentary rocks, and its main component is SiO₂. Diatomite is an indispensable non−metallic mineral resource in my country's social production activities, because of its porosity, strong adsorption, light weight, high melting point, heat insulation, sound absorption, low refractive index, stable chemical properties, etc. It is widely used in sewage treatment, agriculture, building materials and its emerging technology fields.

Methods In this paper, by collecting and sorting out data and fully drawing on previous research results, this paper investigates the distribution of diatomite resources in the world, the genetic types of deposits, and its application in traditional and emerging technology fields.

Results Diatomaceous earth resources are widely distributed in 122 countries in the world. At present, the total reserves of diatomaceous earth in the world are about 920 million tons, of which the United States is the most abundant, its reserves are about 250 million tons, accounting for 27.2% of the world's total. China's diatomaceous earth reserves are about 170 million tons, accounting for about 18% of the world's total reserves. According to the different formation mechanism and sedimentary environment of diatomite, the deposit types are divided into Marine sedimentary deposit and continental sedimentary deposit, both of which are affected by the superposition of geological structure, climatic environment, time condition and suitable sedimentary environment.

Conclusions Combined with domestic and foreign data, the genetic analysis of diatomite deposits shows that diatomite deposits are concentrated in fault basins and intermountain basins generated by volcanic structures from Tertiary to Quaternary, and are directly related to the distribution of basalt. The zone with humid climate, warm environment and sufficient rainfall can be used as a prospecting prospect area for diatomite deposits. For example, the depression in the eastern part of China is easy to form volcanic structure, the foresea basin in the southeast area has more volcanic eruption activities in the Neogene period, and the small and medium−sized tectonic basin formed by the mountain movement in the southwest area, especially some Cenozoic basins with basalt base and basalt distribution area can be used as the prospecting prospect of continental sedimentary diatomite deposits in China. In the middle and high latitudes of the North Pacific Ocean, marginal basins were formed through the interaction of tectonic and volcanic activities in the late Oligocene and early Miocene. In the middle and late Miocene, the deposition rate of diatomite increased under the hypoxia condition of the deep sea bottom water, which made diatomite widely distributed in this area. Therefore, the northern part of the North Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan can be used as prospecting prospects for Marine sedimentary diatomite deposits.