Diatomite

Specimen Summary

Diatomite is a siliceous-rock comprised predominantly of diatoms (major group of algae-micro algae, found in oceans) with a porosity greater than 50%. Diatomaceous earth is the commercial term for diatomite. Diatomite is used in many products including: filtering media, natural insecticide and absorbents to name a few.

Specimen Data

 

The information listed below relates to the current holding location or collection that the sample is from, and whether the item is viewable at that location or is part of a private collection. Coordinates are given as guides, and we remind you that collecting specimens from these locations is not allowed. Caution is advised visiting such sites and Below BC assumes no responsibility for any injuries or trespassing charges that may occur as a result of the viewer entering these sites.

Collection Details

Original Collection:

British Columbia Geological Survey (BCGS)

Sub Collection:

-

Collection ID:

Loon-1

Virtual Museum ID:

19-BCGS-Loon-1

Accessibility:

Date Added to VM:

2019-05-07

Location Information

Sample Origin:

5km SW of Loon Lake, B.C.

Specific Site:

Loon Creek

UTM Easting:

610950

UTM Northing:

5656114

Datum:

10 (NAD 83)

Coordinate Accuracy:

Specimen Details

VM Category:

Mineral

Primary Features:

Diatomite

Primary Mineral Formula:

-

Primary Category:

silicate

Secondary Features:

Advanced Geological Information

 

The following section provides geological data relating to the specimen or the site it was collected from, when available. Information has been obtained from various sources including private and government datasets but may not be up to date. Any geological time periods or ages listed often relate to the primary geology of the area, and may not be the actual date of an event such as mineral formation.

Geological Formation:

Deadman River Formation

Geological Period:

Miocene

Stratigraphic Age:

23.03 - 5.333 Ma

Geological Belt:

Intermontane

Geological Terrane:

Overlap Assemblage, Quesnel

Minfile ID:

092P 099, 093F 061, 093G 001, 093K 082, 104M 022

Minfile Link:

https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092P%20%20099

Site Details:

The Loon Creek diatomite showing is located in Loon Creek valley 5 kilometres southwest of Loon Lake and 13 kilometres east-southeast of Clinton.

The occurence is hosted in the north draining Mio-Bonaparte channel, a fluviatile and lacustrine interlayer of the Miocene Deadman River Formation which is part of the Miocene to Pleistocene Chilcotin Group composed mainly of alkaline plateau basaltic flows. The Deadman River Formation (EMPR Open File 1989-21) is composed of rhyolite ash, tuffaceous sandstone, siltstone, shale, minor pebble conglomerate. The siltstones and shales are commonly carbonaceous and/or diatomaceous.

The Loon Creek diatomaceous earth showing is exposed in a 2 metre high roadcut near the base of a Miocene channel filling of fluviatile and lacustrine sediments occupying the Mio-Bonaparte Channel which is over 5 kilometres wide and 400 metres deep. A 3 metre thickness of fairly pure diatomite is exposed for 60 metres along a cut on Loon Lake Road.

Additional Images