Diatomites are lightweight, soft, fine-grained, medium-consolidated sedimentary rocks that are rich in biogenic silica. They primarily consist of microalgae siliceous frustules from diatoms, including silicoflagellates, sponge spicules, and/or radiolarian [1]. These organisms thrive in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, and diatomites are found across most regions of the world, with a notable presence in the Mediterranean. Although their geographical and biostratigraphical distribution in Greece is not well-documented, they have been predominantly identified in Neogene age formations both on the mainland and on the islands. Diatomites are utilized in multiple industries, with their two main applications being commercial extraction and processing into diverse products [2]. Such products are used in building construction, the food industry, and other sectors such as chemical manufacturing and agriculture as well as advanced nanomaterials. They can be used as proxies for both paleoenvironmental analysis and in hydrocarbon exploration. Despite their global importance and potential as source rocks (SRs) for hydrocarbons, relevant research in Greece has been indeed limited.
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