Abstract: A diatomite product and method of using such is disclosed. The diatomite product may comprise sodium flux-calcined diatomite, wherein the diatomite product has a crystalline silica content of less than about 1 wt %, and the diatomite product has a permeability between 0.8 darcy and about 30 darcy. In some embodiments, the diatomite product may be in particulate or powdered form. This disclosure also concerns flux-calcined silica products containing low or non-detectable levels of crystalline silica. Some of these products can be further characterized by high permeabilities and a measurable content of opal-C, a hydrated form of silicon dioxide.

Abstract: A method of determining opal-C and cristobalite contents of a product that comprises diatomite is disclosed. The method may comprise performing thermal processing to determine a loss on ignition for a representative first portion of a sample of the product; identifying and quantifying primary and secondary peaks present in a first diffraction pattern that results from bulk powder X-ray Diffraction on a representative second portion of the sample; and using a known standard sample of cristobalite to determine whether the primary and secondary peaks present in the first diffraction pattern indicate the presence of opal-C or cristobalite in the product.

Abstract: A method of determining opal-C and cristobalite contents of a product that comprises diatomite is disclosed. The method may comprise performing thermal processing to determine a loss on ignition for a representative first portion of a sample of the product; identifying and quantifying primary and secondary peaks present in a first diffraction pattern that results from bulk powder X-ray Diffraction on a representative second portion of the sample; and using a known standard sample of cristobalite to determine whether the primary and secondary peaks present in the first diffraction pattern indicate the presence of opal-C or cristobalite in the product.

Abstract: A diatomite product and method of using such is disclosed. The diatomite product may comprise sodium flux-calcined diatomite, wherein the diatomite product has a crystalline silica content of less than about 1 wt %, and the diatomite product has a permeability between 0.8 darcy and about 30 darcy. In some embodiments, the diatomite product may be in particulate or powdered form. This disclosure also concerns flux-calcined silica products containing low or non-detectable levels of crystalline silica. Some of these products can be further characterized by high permeabilities and a measurable content of opal-C, a hydrated form of silicon dioxide.

Abstract: Products (4) comprising a physical component (6) and Silica Documentation (8), and methods of preparing such products (4) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the physical component (6) may be powdered or in particulate form. The physical component (6) includes diatomite. In such products (4), a crystalline silica content of the physical component (6) by weight is greater as measured according to Traditional Methods than as measured according to a method that differentiates between opal-C and cristobalite. The Silica Documentation (8) discloses the crystalline silica content present in the physical component (6) as measured according to the method that differentiates between opal-C and cristobalite. The method of preparing the product (4) may include analyzing the physical component (6) for crystalline silica content using an LH Method to determine cristobalite content and preparing Silica Documentation (8) based on the results of the LH Method.