
Diatomite
Virtual Museum ID: 19-BCGS-Loon-1
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-1Virtual Museum ID:
19-BCGS-Loon-1Accessibility:
Date Added to VM:
2019-05-07Location Information
Sample Origin:
5km SW of Loon Lake, B.C.Specific Site:
Loon CreekUTM Easting:
610950UTM Northing:
5656114Datum:
10 (NAD 83)Coordinate Accuracy:
Specimen Details
VM Category:
MineralPrimary Features:
DiatomitePrimary Mineral Formula:
-Primary Category:
silicateSecondary 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 FormationGeological Period:
MioceneStratigraphic Age:
23.03 - 5.333 MaGeological Belt:
IntermontaneGeological Terrane:
Overlap Assemblage, QuesnelMinfile ID:
092P 099, 093F 061, 093G 001, 093K 082, 104M 022Site 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