DIATOMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 860, 5 July 1910, Page 4

DIATOMS.

« LATEST NEW ZEALAND "FIND." (By Telesrapn.-Special Oorresponiient.l Christchurch, July 1. Mr. R. Speight, assistant curator at Canterbury Jluseum, has received from Jliddlemareli, Otago, . somo interesting specimens which (says the "Star") are now displayed in the case set apart fot fresh exliibits in (lie museum! 'ltiey are pieces of diatoniaceous earth which, it is reported, came ivoiii a deposit covering about 120 acres with a thickness of seventy feet. iir. Speight states that, if this is so, the deposit will evidently rank as one of tlio most important. in the world. Large deposits are found in other places, notably in New Jersey, where there is an area of three acres with a thickness oi ? eiie foot to throe feet, and another deposit of not less i.han 301) feet in thickness is reported but, apparently, it does not cover anything like tho same area. Steps have been taken already to make uso of the deposit and 385 bags have been, sent to England. Unfortunately the deposit is not very accessible and is somewhat remote from the railway. All account of their microscopic interest and geological importance diatoms liavo acquired an unusual share of scientific and even popular attention. They were discovered in 1702, and their movements were noted eighty years later, but their thorough investigation lias become possible only with the development of the compound microscope. Diatomacoous earth is used as a polishing powdei known as tripolite, as an absorbent for nitro-glycerino in the manufacture of dynamite, as a non-conducting material in connection with boilers and for certain glazed paints.