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Diatomite
Diatomite is a nearly pure silicious sedimentary rock consisting of
fossilised skeletal diatoms i.e. siliceous skeletons of microscopic
unicellular floating acquatic algae.
Diatomite, recovered either by open pit or underground mining,
typically containing up to 50% moisture, is dried in rotary kilns or
sundried ready for light milling and separation to produce natural,
calcined and flux calcined grades of diatomite. Calcination
(870°-1.093°C) or flux calcinations (1.148°C)
removes organics, reduces surface area by fusing the fines structure of
the particles.
Link:
-British Geological Survey,
World Mineral Statistics 1999-2002
-IDPA-The
International Diatomite Producers Association
Diatomite
Production
Thousand Tonnes
| |
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008 |
| Europe |
|
|
|
|
|
| Czech Republic |
33.000
|
38.000
|
53.000
|
19.000
|
31.000 |
| France |
75.000
|
75.000
|
75.000
|
75.000
|
75.000 |
| Iceland |
19.332
|
3.236
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
| Portugal |
120
|
110
|
100
|
0
|
0 |
| Romania |
14.192
|
1.402
|
1.719
|
15
|
50 |
| Slovakia |
930
|
910
|
800
|
0
|
0 |
| Spain |
33.799
|
44.335
|
52.123
|
45.000
|
46.192 |
| United Kingdom |
4.300
|
4.400
|
3.000
|
0
|
0 |
| total |
180.673
|
167.393
|
185.742
|
139.015
|
152.242
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Asia |
|
|
|
|
|
| Armenia |
200
|
190
|
180
|
150
|
130 |
| China |
390.000
|
400.000
|
420.000
|
420.000
|
440.000 |
| Iran |
9.500
|
1.450
|
1.500
|
1.500
|
9.600 |
| Korea,
Republic of |
2.441
|
2.193
|
3.460
|
2.360
|
2.000 |
| Thailand |
1.372
|
990
|
1.344
|
1.260
|
4.075 |
| total |
403.513
|
404.823
|
426.484
|
425.270
|
455.805
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| America |
|
|
|
|
|
| Argentina |
25.000
|
29.495
|
38.543
|
49.604
|
36.996 |
| Brazil |
7.197
|
7.549
|
10.700
|
9.600
|
6.000 |
| Canada |
1.900
|
1.700
|
1.500
|
0
|
0 |
| Chile |
24.131
|
16.418
|
19.104
|
25.405
|
25.497 |
| Costa Rica |
11.000
|
10.800
|
15.000
|
10.000
|
9.000 |
| Mexico |
59.818
|
62.132
|
62.900
|
82.519
|
128.536 |
| Peru |
14.600
|
14.400
|
18.000
|
21.603
|
12.206 |
| United
States |
620.000
|
635.000
|
799.000
|
687.000
|
763.616 |
| total |
763.646
|
777.494
|
964.747
|
885.731
|
981.851
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Africa |
|
|
|
|
|
| Algeria |
2.665
|
2.800
|
1.800
|
1.902
|
2.000 |
| Ethiopia |
720
|
420
|
430
|
430
|
430 |
| Kenya |
330
|
243
|
185
|
201
|
72 |
| South Africa |
160
|
150
|
130
|
100
|
0 |
| total |
3.875
|
3.613
|
2.545
|
2.633
|
2.502
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Oceania |
|
|
|
|
|
| Australia |
10.000
|
10.200
|
15.000
|
20.000
|
20.000 |
|
total |
10.000
|
10.200
|
15.000
|
20.000
|
20.000
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| WORLD TOTAL |
1.365.582 |
2.141.017 |
1.597.063 |
1.472.649 |
1.612.400 |
|
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