ʻO ka honua diatomaceous kahi ʻano pōhaku sedimentary siliceous biogenic, i haku ʻia me nā koena diatom kahiko. ʻO kona ʻano kemika he SiO2 nui ia, nona kahi liʻiliʻi o Al₂O₃, ʻAi₂O₃, CaO, MgO, K₂ʻO, Na₂ʻO, P₂O₅a me nā mea olaola. ʻO nā hoʻohana nui o ka diatomite he mau mea kōkua kānana, nā mea hoʻopihapiha, nā mea hoʻopili, nā mea lawe catalytic, nā mea kūkulu hale aloha i ke kaiapuni a pēlā aku.