Diatomaceous earth ke mofuta oa lefika la siliceous sedimentary la biogenic, le entsoeng haholo-holo ka mesaletsa ea diatom ea boholo-holo. Sebopeho sa eona sa lik'hemik'hale ke SiO2 haholo-holo, e nang le karolo e nyane ea Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, CaO, MgO, K₂O, Na₂O, P₂O₅le dintho tse phelang. Ditshebediso tse ka sehloohong tsa diatomite ke di-filter aids, di-filler, di-adsorbents, di-catalytic carriers, thepa ya kaho e sireletsang tikoloho le tse ding.