what is diatomous earth?

Question

Trying to find out best way of removing a rust stain from stone. Have found a couple of web sites which suggest making a poultice using diatomous earth.

Answer 1

Diamatous earth is a powder you put into pools. You can find it at a pool store!

Answer 2

Diatomaceous earth comes from the skeleton of a tiny, microscopic sea creature called a Diatom.

Under the microscope, the skeleton looks like a wheel with spokes. The edges of the 'wheel' are very sharp.

The best known use for this inert substance is as an insecticide.

You can scatter the diatomaceous earth around your house, inside or out and it acts like razor wire. When insects crawl through it, it cuts them and they die. It is very effective.

It is also used as substance in filters. The distance between
the spokes of the wheel are quite small and traps unwanted particles.

Diatomaceous earth is harmless to dogs, cats or humans. In fact, in some health clinics in Europe, doctors put the substance in oatmeal or other food to kill stomach parasites. They know what they are doing, I wouldn't try it at home.

I don't know how effective it would be in removing rust.
Seems to me that the cost of it would be higher than an other substance that would work equally well.

Answer 3

this really depends, while you can put D.E. in the pool, they also have a food grade that you can use, and was actually used back in the 1900 and added to flour to expand usage. You can find D.E. in supplements as well.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diatomaceous earth (IPA: /ˌdʌɪətəˈmeɪʃəs ˈəː(r)θ/, also known as DE, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and Celite) is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light. Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator.

Answer 4

diatomaceous earth is composed of the hard skeletons of microscopic sea creatures called diatoms. When they die their skeltons collect on the seabed. Their skeltons are very abrasive, covered with sharp edges. Not only does it work as an abrasive, but makes a great insecticide too.