Filtration with Diatomaceous Earth

Geology plays a significant role in the wine and beer making process. Not only do the types of soils in which the hops and grapes are grown impact their flavor, but sometimes geology can also play a more direct role. Beer and wine are usually filtered before aging, and one of the more popular filtration materials is a mineral known as diatomite. Also known as diatomaceous earth, diatomite is a sedimentary rock made up of the fossils of diatoms, a type of algae. USGS tracks diatomite production, reserves, and uses in its annual USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries.