PORTLAND - A CSI or Crime Scene Investigation TV show mentioned Algae or “Diatoms” in a drowned person’s lungs gave them the clue they needed to where the person died.
It is fun for outdoors people to know more about what they might encounter during road trips through Eastern Oregon. Knowledge adds to the adventure; as; all too often or usually we drive by a sight and have no clue what that is or even means!
The cover photo shows an outcrop of a prehistoric 18-16 million year-old Lake filled with white Diatom-silica shells at mile post 140 on Highway 26 between Dayville & John Day Oregon.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Magazine (issue August of 2009) has an article on the Yellowstone Super-Volcano (page 56-69); however the Oregon connection is found on page 60 or more specifically on the LINE OF FIRE chart later. A U.S. Geological Survey scientist Bob Christiansen speaks about a “Hotspot” in our South-eastern Oregon corner by McDermitt, Nevada. This Yellowstone article focuses mainly on Wyoming National Park SUPER VOLCANO; but this HOTSPOT is currently suggested as the start of the massive Columbia River Basalt flows covering most of Eastern Oregon & Washington with many layers of solid black basalt lava flows during the Miocene Period. One current theory suggests this HOTSPOT is actually a meteorite strike that shattered the North American Continental plate east of the early Cascade Mountains. Like a broken black molasses glass bottle, the geologic hot lavas flowed up and out these huge, deep cracks in the Earth leaving massive multiple-layers of cold black basalt lava flows that we see traveling today – anywhere in Eastern Oregon.
Classic Eastern Oregon volcanoes are rare to see because these lava flows flowed out of deep cracks in our Earth during this odd time period.
Moreover, it is hard to imagine how long it took for these red hot, ropy, thick lava flows to cool down individually back then; but once cold, Pacific-Oregon rains would pile up in low spots on these impervious black surfaces into warm-sun heated ponds and lakes. Miocene Fossil Diatoms with silica shells would multiply daily in these green, scummy, hot sun-heated outdoor pools and fistulas or “seed” could be carried to new pools in this ancient barren black environment.
It is fun to discover what happened to this rock outcrop. It is near PICTURE GORGE along Highway 26; which was created by the John Day River slowly cutting thru around a dozen different period lava flows. However, here a single thin layer of molten lava poured into this prehistoric pond and the exploding steam chunked up this normal lava flow layer. The white layer is composed of the cooked silica shell animals that died that day. Utterly amazing image once one understands what this picture shows.
Actually, Miocene Freshwater Diatomaceous earth deposits have many unique & practical applications for modern Oregonians at home – to check out!
This is a free Great Spirit given “natural resource or commodity” in large deposits for commercial uses. Oregon is a natural resource-rich State.
Here is some research from Wikipedia:
“Diatomite forms by the accumulation of the amorphous silica (opal, SiO2·nH2O) remains of dead diatoms (microscopic single-celled algae) in lacustrine or marine sediments. The fossil remains consist of a pair of symmetrical shells or frustules.[1]
In 1836 or 1837, the peasant and goods wagoner, Peter Kasten,[3]discovered diatomaceous earth (German: kieselgur) when sinking a well on the northern slopes of the Haußelberg hill, in the Lüneburg Heath in north Germany. Initially, it was thought that limestone had been found, which could be used as fertilizer. Alfred Nobel used the properties of diatomaceous earth in the manufacture of dynamite. In 1866, Alfred Nobel discovered that nitroglycerin could be made much more stable if absorbed in diatomite. This allows much safer transport and handling than nitroglycerin in its raw form. He patented this mixture as ‘dynamite’ in 1867, and the mixture is also referred to as guhr dynamite. The Celle engineer, Wilhelm Berkefeld, recognized its ability to filter, and developed 'filter candles' fired from diatomaceous earth.[4]During the cholera epidemic in Hamburg in 1892, these Berkefeld filterswere used successfully.”
The commercial deposits of diatomite are restricted to Tertiaryor Quaternaryperiods. Older deposits from as early as the CretaceousPeriod are known, but are of low quality.
Lake deposits also occur in interglacial lakes in the eastern US and Canada and in Europe in Germany, France, Denmark and the Czech Republic. “The worldwide association of diatomite deposits and volcanic deposits suggests that the availability of silica from volcanic ash may be needed for thick diatomite deposits.[7]”
The age and shape of diatoms
Each deposit of diatomaceous earth is different, with varying blends of pure diatomaceous earth combined with other natural clays and minerals.
The diatoms in each deposit contain different amounts of silica, depending on the age of the deposit. As well, the species of diatom may also differ among deposits.
The species of diatom is dependent upon the age and paleo-environment of the deposit. In turn, the shape of a diatom is determined by its species.
The shape of the diatoms contained in a deposit has not been proven to affect their functionality when it comes to the absorption of liquids; however certain applications, such as that for slugs and snails, do work best when a particular shaped diatom is used. For example, in the case of slugs and snails large, spiny diatoms work best to lacerate the outer shell of the insect.
Many deposits throughout British Columbia, Canada, such as Red Lake Earth, are from the Miocene age and contain a species of diatom known as Melosira granulate. These diatoms are approximately 12 to 16 million years old and are a small globular shape.
A deposit containing diatoms from this age can provide many more benefits than that of an older deposit. For example, diatoms from the Eocene age (approximately 40 to 50 million year old) are not as effective in their ability to absorb fluids because older diatoms such as this recrystallize, their small pores becoming filled with silica.[20]
PRACTICAL HOME USES OF Diatomaceous earth
- 1). Absorbent
Its absorbent qualities make it useful for spill clean-up and the U.S. Centers for Disease Controlrecommends it to clean up toxic liquid spills. These qualities also lend themselves to use in facial masks to absorb excess oils.
“It has been employed as a primary ingredient in a type of cat litter. The type of silica used in cat litter comes from freshwater sources and does not pose a significant health risk to pets or humans.”
The author carries a sack of cat litter in trunk of vehicle as added traction on icy roads during the winter stops?
- 2). PEST CONTROL
Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate.
Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical-grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans, with questionable efficacy.[10][11]It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate cockroach and flea infestations. This material has wide application for insect control in grain storage.[12]It has also been used to control bed bug infestations, but this method may take weeks to work.[13]
- 3). Filtration
The most common use (68%)of diatomaceous earth is as a filter medium, especially for swimming pools. It has a high porosity, because it is composed of microscopically-small, coffin-like, hollow particles. Diatomaceous earth (sometimes referred to as Celite, a generalized trademark) is used in chemistry as a filtration aid, to filter very fine particles that would otherwise pass through or clog filter paper. It is also used to filter water, particularly in the drinking watertreatment process and in fish tanks, and other liquids, such as beerand wine.It can also filter syrups, sugar, and honey without removing or altering the color, taste, or nutritional properties of any of them.[8]Other industries such as paper, paints, ceramics, soapand detergents use it as a fillingmaterial.
- 4). Abrasive
The oldest use of diatomite is as a very mild abrasive and, for this purpose; it has been used in toothpasteand in metal polishes, as well as in some facial scrubs.
- 5. Livestock uses:
Natural freshwater diatomaceous earth is used in agriculture for grain storage as an anticaking agent, as well as an insecticide.[16]It is approved by the US Department of Agriculture as a feed supplement.
It is also used as a neutral anthelmintic (dewormer). Some farmers add it to their livestock and poultryfeed to improve the health of animals.[17]"Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth" is widely available in agricultural feed supply stores. It is acceptable as organic feed additive for livestock.
- 6). Hydroponics Applications
Freshwater diatomite can be used as a growing medium in hydroponic gardens.
It is also used as a growing medium in potted plants, particularly as bonsai soil. Bonsai enthusiasts use it as a soil additive, or pot a bonsai tree in 100% diatomaceous earth. Like perlite, vermiculite, and expanded clay, it retains water and nutrients, while draining fast and freely, allowing high oxygen circulation within the growing medium.
However, Diatomaceous earth, as seen in cat litter, can be very dusty dumped into a container. Is this a problem for me or my family?
www.oregon.gov/DEQ/ - THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYT (DEQ) website has a great deal of UP DATED information specifically on common Diatomaceous earth available everywhere today?
What is diatomaceous earth?
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a type of rock composed of the silica-containing skeletons of fossilized diatoms (very small marine and freshwater organisms). Silica (silicon dioxide) is a mineral that occurs naturally in crystalline and amorphous (non-crystalline) forms. Diatom skeletons are composed mainly of amorphous silica, with small amounts of quartz and cristobalite. Quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite are three crystalline forms of silica, of which quartz is the most common. Cristobalite occurs naturally in volcanic rock, and is often found with quartz in the Pacific Northwest. It can also be formed by heating (“calcined”) DE to a high temperature (1000-1100 °C). DE is mined for use in industrial filtration applications. Its oldest and best-known commercial use is as a very mild abrasive in metal polishes and in toothpaste. It is also used as an anti-caking additive in various food items. Large deposits occur in California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon.
Could inhaling diatomaceous earth be a health hazard?
Inhaling naturally-occurring DE should pose no more of a health hazard than inhaling dust in general. Whether dust, including DE dust, could cause harm depends on how much of it is “respirable” (i.e., is of the right size to be taken into the lungs), how much of it is in the air (i.e., its air concentration), and how long a person is exposed to (breathes) it. For most people, breathing dust is likely to be no more than an unpleasant nuisance. However, for people with health problems (e.g., asthmatics, the elderly), those who breathe more (e.g., children) or breathe other chemicals (e.g., smokers), exposure to respirable dust at moderate to high concentrations could cause or worsen health problems.
Can silica cause silicosis or cancer?
Yes, but only for crystalline silica and probably only under work-related conditions. Inhalation of crystalline silica under occupational conditions can produce a severe and disabling non-cancer disease of the lungs (“silicosis”). Silicosis can be either mild or severe, in direct proportion to the percentage and concentration of crystalline silica in the air and the duration of exposure. Silicosis is typically a work-related disease that develops over years of exposure to very high levels of crystalline silica-containing dust. Crystalline silica is presently considered a known human carcinogen only under occupational conditions. Health problems from crystalline silica are associated with exposure to very high levels for long periods (years), conditions that are unlikely to occur in non-industrial or residential situations.
. Natural or dried diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica
OREGON Outdoors people in Eastern Oregon can encounter dust storms and other outside disturbances; but no one should worry about silicosis outdoors as Nature has made the blowing dust too large to breathe in or cause you or your family harm. Man-made - Industrial site exposure long-term is the source of any lung disease after decades of indoor plant exposure.
It is healthy to get outside!
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