24/01/2022
Diatomite : siliceous sedimentary rock, loose or consolidated, of light color, formed mainly of remains of diatoms.
Other names: terre à diatomées; tripoli; kieselguhr
Use: Due to its lightness, its porosity and its chemical neutrality, it is used in particular for the filtration of liquids and as a natural mineral filler.
Global diatomite deposits are classified into two categories: marine or continental deposits.
In France, all diatomite deposits are continental in type and are located in the Massif Central. Two of these deposits are currently exploited: Saint-Bauzile, in Ardèche and Virargues-Foufouilloux in Cantal.
Geological resources in diatomites are relatively abundant on French soil and recognized to be of good quality.
o Nevertheless, exploitable reserves are more limited, in particular due to environmental constraints (the Nouvialle deposit (Cantal) appears to be one of the most important continental diatomite deposits in Europe but not exploited).
o Regarding the deposits currently in operation, the known reserves are estimated at around 20 years of operation (it will probably be difficult to maintain French production and supply the two diatomite processing plants) .
Industrial players, markets and sectors
2 main French operators (diatomite deposits): the Chemviron and Imerys groups.
There are 4 active careers:
• the Montagne d’Andance quarry (Chemviron)
• the Foufouilloux-Pré de l’Ane quarry (Chemviron)
• the Foufouilloux-Nord quarry (Imerys)
• the Foufouilloux-Pré quarry in Nozerolles (Imerys)
The maximum authorized production for these 4 quarries is 460,000 t.
Actual production: around 300,000 t of raw materials extracted, corresponding to a national production of diatomite market products of 100,000 t.
Total world production: is around 3 Mt, dominated by the United States (700,000 t in 2017).
On the demand side, the distribution of markets varies by geographic area.
o At the global level (in particular in the United States), the first market are the filtration aids with 50% of the demand.
o then the production of cement (30%), where diatomite is used as an additive,
o mineral fillers and fillers (15%) used in many applications such as paint, plastics or papers.
o Absorbents correspond to 5% of the uses of diatomite, in particular for the elimination of microbes and contaminants in public water systems.
o less than 1% of applications are specialty uses including pharmaceutical and biomedical uses (filtration of blood plasma, DNA extraction, etc.)
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