Dear all
Further to the discussion of the uses of spiculites and spongolites and
extending this to the marine realm, the Eocene spiculites of southern
Western Australia have been locally quarried as building stone and the high
purity spiculites 9which are very light) are uses as insulation in food
fired BBQs. There have also been investigations into their filtration
properties, as a possible substitue for diatomaceous earth. These have
given inferior results. Silcified Eocene spiculites have been used for
aboriginal tools in South Australia, Western Australia, and Tertiary
spiculites of unknwon age in tasmania have been similarly quarried.
Opalised spiculites from at least one locality in Western Australia have
been sold as gemstones.
Jonathan Clarke
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