105 
TRIPOLITE. 
Tripolite, or as it is also called tripoli, infusorial earth, dia- 
tomaceous earth, fossil flour, or kieselguhr, is an earthy material 
composed of the minute siliceous shells or frustules of diatoms, 
ft usually contains such impurities as sand, clay, carbonate of 
lime, iron oxide, etc. The following analysis is from a sample 
°f tripolite from New Brunswick. 1 
Silica (Si0 2 ) 80-487% 
Alumina (AI2O3) 3 • 146% 
Ferric oxide (Fe20s) ‘951% 
Lime (CaO) -342% 
Magnesia (MgO) -283% 
Carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) ’011% 
Water and organic matter 13-321% 
98-541 
USES. 
Owing to the finely divided and angular silica, which is the 
ma m constituent of tripolite, it is very useful as a polishing 
^aterial for metal. For this purpose it is prepared in three 
(1) Dry powder, to be moistened or otherwise prepared 
y the user. 
., Mixed with about one-third its weight of tallow or 
l lar d grease and moulded into bricks or sticks. This is 
Se on buffing wheels. 
w 11 1^ ^* xe( l with some cleansing liquid in the form of the 
nown liquid metal polishes. 
w ork ? t * 1 ° se industries where there is much polishing of metal 
b r j j af gc quantities of tripolite are used in the form of grease 
fact' MUCH is imported into the country already manu- 
head “ an< ^ some manufactured here. In the returns, under the 
is be tr *f )0 ^ te (g rea se brick),” all is recorded as imported. This 
is - Cause the tripolite used even in the Canadian made bricks 
^imported. 
1 ^^ge 22 Q a 
nnual Report, Geological Survey, Vol. XV.