Chemistry and Structure

Although silica is a common feature in the Earth’s crust, very little is dissolved in the lakes and oceans. Even less is apparent when considering the amount in living organisms. Diatomite represents a very rare occurrence - a mineral silica worked by nature into a labyrinth of tiny holes. No other silica source that is mined or chemically prepared has such a structure. It is a work of art by Mother Nature, but the key to the exceptional properties of diatomite lies more in the microstructure - each diatom being peppered with thousands of holes, usually of three distinct sizes, ranging from a few microns down to sub microns. The number and sizes of the holes vary with the species.

It is the combination of the pure silica composition, the overall structure of the broken diatom pieces and the network of holes within the structure that are responsible for the unique properties of diatomaceous earth products.

SEM of the particular base species used by Natural Feeds and Fertilisers (Cyclostephanos) for insect and parasite control.