Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a silky, off-white powder commonly used for wellness, detox, pet, farm, and garden uses. The DE is mined from freshwater sources in order to be called Food Grade, which means it is safe to be used even as a food additive, and a manufacturing aid.
Diatomaceous Earth is commonly mispelled as:
…diamantis earth, deciduous earth, dianthus earth, diatomic earth, denatured earth, dimethicone earth, dalmation earth, and dichromatic earth…
However, the correct spelling is DIATOMACEOUS EARTH.
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is an all-natural product that can be used safely, and with many lasting benefits. That’s why we have created this easy to navigate Diatomaceous Earth Facts page, to help you with your research!
Please use the following list to navigate the topics below to get started:
- What is DE: How is it Made?
- What are Diatoms?
- Food Grade meaning…
- Types of Silica
- Gardens and Farms
- Pet Care
- Personal Care
- Wellness and Selfcare
- Food and Beverage Processing
- Industrial and Environmental Factors
How Does DE form?
Diatomaceous Earth forms over long periods of time through the accumulation of of diatoms, which is the most common type of microscopic algae. When diatoms die, their frustules (skeletal remains) sink to the bottom of bodies of water and gradually accumulate as sediment. Over time, these accumulated frustules (silica rich diatom shells) become compacted and cemented together, forming deposits of natural diatomite.
These sedimentary deposits are large enough to be mined by large machines, harvesting the raw diatomite for processing and refinement. Basic collecting, sorting, sifting, and drying is completed where other sedimentary materials such as feldspars, basalt clays, are minimized in the end result.
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is then the final product, where no additives, fillers, modifiers, or other agents are added, including no heat or pressure treatments. The soft and silky powder is then ready for a wide array of uses and applications; from personal, agricultural, and industrial.
Is “Diatom” Earth made from Algae?
Before Diatomaceous Earth is mined and processed, it first exists as single-celled aglae called Diatoms.
What makes a “diatom” so special?
- They represent the largest source of oxygen in the world.
- Diatoms are in nearly any ocean or freshwater lake.
- Across the world there is a wide variety of variation, where each region has it’s own kind of diatom.
- Diatoms can grow and multiply into unique single-cell organisms.
- Diatoms have a silica based (siliceous) cell-wall. This is very different from most plant-life, which has a carbon cell wall.
- Diatomaceous Earth is Fossilized Diatoms.
This feature is very important, as when the diatom is fossilized across time, it is the silica based skeleton that remains. When collected and refined, we have a beautiful soft and silky white powder that is nearly pure amorphous silica, called Diatomaceous Earth.
Diatomaceous Earth from Freshwater Sources
All forms of Diatomaceous Earth are derived from special mining sites, which were ancient sea and lake beds. These aquatic environments were perfect conditions for diatoms to proliferate. Each location that DE is discovered is unique. Therefore, each deposit has a diatoms with a unique composition, making it a practical way to identify biological patterns in world regions. Sometimes these unique identifiers are used in forensics, for example.
It’s important to note as well that there are millions of tons of algae (diatoms) alive in all the oceans, seas, and lakes today. Just remember, living algae and phytoplankton is not diatomaceous earth, because it has not undergone a natural fossilization process.
It’s amazing to think how many thousands of years it would take to form just one of these freshwater reservoirs. We approximate the the deposits our DE originates from is approximately 250 thousand years old.
What is Diatomite?
The appearance of a diatomite mine is very fine white crumbly rock appearance and texture. Once discovered, a potential mine’s diatom qualities and species are tested, and then further analysis can determine if there is a high quality product available for processing. Eventually, some of these locations become functioning Diatomite mines and reservoirs.
Diatomite is a genearl term for any grade of DE. There can be many grades including grades that are unsafe for handling and exposure, these would be examples of Non-food grade DE.
What makes it Food Grade DE?
In order to be considered food grade, the manufacturer must guarantee that the level of crystalline silica is under 2%, where many DE reservoirs in USA are around 0.5%.
- We have Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth with crystalline silica levels at <0.01% (less than 0.0001). That is the lowest levels on the market.
- Secondly, the quality must be pure, in that the DE is not mixed with other additives or natural impurities. Our DE comes in at a whopping 89% (average) amorphous silica purity.
At Diatomaceous Planet, all our DE is Food Grade quality, and mined from a specific freshwater lake bed in the USA (Nevada Area). This mining location has yielded the highest quality product for many decades. Reliable applications range from agriculture, pets, personal, and industrial uses.
Diatomaceous Earth is Amorphous Silica
Many people have heard of silica or quartz, but what does it mean when silica is amorphous? Read this to understand the difference between quartz rock, chalk dust, DE (amorphous silica), and even when food grade DE is “bioavailable” silica.
Is DE the same as Quartz?
Often we find quartz rocks in gravel, or on beaches and waterfronts. The crystal form is easily recognizable; a white-ish or beige stone, with a sparkle or glitter in appearance. In geology, there are two types of quartz formations; massive quartz, and quartz crystals.
Massive quartz appears translucent, and has jagged shapes; an overall compressed appearance and texture without any complete crystal formations. On the other hand, fully formed quartz crystals have six pronounced edges, and are ‘crystal’ clear (transparent) like pure glass.
But when do we find amorphous silica in such a natural form, instead of it being crystallized? A great example is limestone, and a resulting substance called calcite, which is common chalk powder.
DE is Elemental Silica
Even though chalk is technically made of the same elemental substances as DE, the difference under a microscope is undeniable. The DE particles, as mentioned above are intact frustules (diatomic remains), allowing the powder form of Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth to have extreme absorbent qualities, along with a negative ionic charge, which relates to its detoxing cababilities (discussed in more details on our page DE for Health Benefits).
One more important definition about DE and silica, is orthosilicic acid. Here is where just a small percentage of the amorphous silica is transformed by our enzymes into a bioavailable form of silica. This means it can actually be absorbed by the body directly, and results in high levels of collegen production.
Growing in popularity, is the explanation that this is why Food Grade DE seems to help with skin, nails, and hair. This means that Food Grade DE is both safe topically, and also has supplemental benefits. Learn more on our page dedicated to DE for Self Care.
Crystalline Silica
When silica is in its glass form, in relationship to the different forms of diatomite, we call it “crystalline” silica. The geological difference is based on the molecular structure, which in a practical structure is just like glass.
In order for a crystal to form, the molecules must be aligned properly. Usually, this takes place under an environment of intense heat or massive amounts of compression. Once under these conditions, the silica element will become a crystalline structure. This is where DE, after being processed, can become useful in other industrial (non-food grade) applications…
Non-Food Grades of DE
The crystalline form or “glass” form of silica is harmful to breathe, and ingest, this accounts for when DE can be harmful, is specific to these Non-Food Grade forms. These other grades of DE are common in filtration products, such as pools or some mining processes, and other chemical processes that might use the absorbent qualities of these glaceous forms of DE.
Any of the risks or hazards associated with crystalline forms of silica, or any non-food grade products are because of the glaceous qualities, causing respiratory risks if a person is repeatedly exposed. Typically these products are also packaged with warning labels. For example, the familiar silicon dioxide packets for dryness found as a packaging product.
Thankfully, we ony sell the purest quality Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, selected and source for it’s safety in a wide variety of applications.
Please continue your research with our sections below… or visit our direct pages about DE for people, pets, homesteads, gardens, and even industrial uses and the food industry…