Umhlaba we-Diatomaceous luhlobo lwe-biogenic siliceous sedimentary rock, ikakhulu eyenziwe ziintsalela zediatom zakudala.Ukubunjwa kwayo kweekhemikhali ikakhulu yiSiO2, equkethe inani elincinci le-Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, P2O5 kunye ne-organic matter.Ukusetyenziswa okuphambili kwe-diatomite zizixhobo zokucoca, iifayili, ii-adsorbents, abathwali be-catalytic, izinto zokwakha ezinobume bendalo kunye nokunye.