ʻO ka honua diatomaceous kahi ʻano pōhaku sedimentary siliceous biogenic, ka mea nui i haku ʻia me nā koena diatom kahiko.ʻO ka nui o kāna mea hoʻohui kemika ʻo SiO2, loaʻa kahi mea liʻiliʻi o Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, P2O5 a me nā mea olaola.ʻO ka hoʻohana nui o ka diatomite he mau mea kānana, hoʻopihapiha, adsorbents, catalytic carriers, nā mea hale pili kaiapuni a pēlā aku.