Characterization of diatomaceous earth from the Slavishko pole locality in the Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

With the complex examination of raw material from a new deposit in Slavishko Pole in the region of Kratovo–Zletovo volcanic area, Republic of Macedonia, its physical, chemical and mineralogical-petrographical properties have been defined. It has been found that it is a dominantly amorphous material, sedimentary rock of the type silicite-diatomite, with biogenic or phytogenic origin. The raw material consists of approximately 72% SiO₂ and it can be classified as diatomite of the type 1 (for 70–80% SiO₂) according to British Standard Specification (BS 1795:1976) [1]. Of the physical properties, more significant is porosity, which is higher than 60%. The raw material has a wide spectrum of possibilities for practical application: intensive absorbent for several types of liquids, regulator of physical and chemical properties of the soil, ionic substitution of heavy metals in soil, natural insecticide, clarifier in food industry etc. For determination of the chemical contents, properties and origin of the raw material the following methods have been used: silicate chemical analysis, XRD analysis, transmission optical microscopy and other methods.

Key words

diatomaceous earth; characterization; chemical analysis; XRD analysis; optical microscopy