Diatomite Fact sheet A- diatom is an organism that is a member of the phylum of algae called Bacillariophyta. There are about 60,000 species of these algae presently known. Experts estimate that there are more likely 600,000 to 6,000,000 species in total! Diatoms are single-celled (unicellular) organisms that live as individuals or in groups called colonies. They exist in all the waters of the Earth, both salt and fresh. They form shells made out of silica (the mineral name of this silica is opal) which they extract from the water. As can be seen in these pictures, their microscopic shells are very intricate and beautiful and have rightly been called the jewels of the sea. Diatoms are very abundant and provide food for many aquatic animals. When diatoms die, their silica shells accumulate on the floor of the body of water in which they lived. Thick layers of these diatom shells have been fossilized (that is, preserved) in the rock record. Such layers, or beds, of diatoms are called diatomaceous earth, or diatomite. Diatomaceous earth is white to cream colour. It is very porous which makes it useful in a number of filtering applications Each deposit of diatomaceous earth is different, with varying blends of pure diatomaceous earth combined with other natural clays and minerals. The diatoms in each deposit contain different amounts of silica, depending on the age of the deposit. As well, the species of diatom may also differ among deposits. The species of diatom is dependent upon the age and paleo-environment of the deposit. In turn, the shape of a diatom is determined by its species. The shape of the diatoms contained in a deposit has not been proven to affect their functionality when it comes to the absorption of liquids, however certain appli- cations, such as that for slugs and snails, do work best when a particular shaped diatom is used. For example: in the case of slugs and snails, large spiny diatoms work best to lacerate the epithelium of the mollusc. Diatom shells will work to some degree on vast majority of animals that undergo shedding such as arthropods or nematodes. Another use for Diatomaceous Earth is for the control of internal parasites such as round worms, tape worms and flukes. DE will not control heartworms. It is considered safe for the digestive system and can be used it as a dietary supplement because of other minerals it contains. Paradise Nutrients uses diatomite in our horse and pet minerals as an absorbent and to add other important nutrients. It will be used in the future in some of our garden products. The Diatomite in Paradise Nutrients product comes from the Black Duck Creek mine, situated in the mountains, south west of Gatton, Qld. This fact sheet is for educational purposes only
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 04:18:00 +0000
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