Dolomite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Dolomite
Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu
Formula:
CaMg(CO3)2
Ca can exist in excess of up to 0.25 apfu in non-stoichiometric dolomite (Nascimento dos Santos et al., 2017). See also Chai et al. (1995) and Drits et al. (2005).
Colour:
Colourless, white, gray, reddish-white, brownish-white, green (rarely), or pink; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Pearly
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
2.84 - 2.86
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1791 by Nicolas Théodore de Saussure in honor of the French mineralogist and geologist, Déodat (Dieudonné) Guy Sylvain Tancrède Gratet de Dolomieu [June 23, 1750, Dolomieu, near Tour-du-Pin, Isère, France - November 28, 1801, Château-Neuf, Sâone-et-Loire, France]. de Dolomieu wrote numerous books on observations on geology, notably about the Alps and Pyrenees, in addition to theoretical books about the internal structure of the Earth. He discovered a specimen of what would eventually be called dolomite during his participation in Napoleon Bonaparte's expedition into Egypt in 1798.
Isostructural with:
Dolomite Group. Ankerite-Dolomite Series.
A common rock forming mineral, also common in veins. Usually, when crystallised, it is found as druzes or clusters of small rhombohedral crystals, typically with a somewhat "saddle"-like shape, white to tan to pink in color.
For dolomite-rich sedimentary rocks see dolostone, although this is commonly termed “dolomite” by many geologists.
Progressive solid-state dissolution–(re)crystallisation reactions, leading to Ca-Mg cation ordering, are suspected to be responsible for the Phanerozoic abundance of dolomite in sedimentary rocks, as compared to modern rock-forming environments (Pina et al., 2022).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Dolomite.
A common rock forming mineral, also common in veins. Usually, when crystallised, it is found as druzes or clusters of small rhombohedral crystals, typically with a somewhat "saddle"-like shape, white to tan to pink in color.
For dolomite-rich sedimentary rocks see dolostone, although this is commonly termed “dolomite” by many geologists.
Progressive solid-state dissolution–(re)crystallisation reactions, leading to Ca-Mg cation ordering, are suspected to be responsible for the Phanerozoic abundance of dolomite in sedimentary rocks, as compared to modern rock-forming environments (Pina et al., 2022).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Dolomite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1304
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1304:4
Similar Names
| Colomite | A synonym of Roscoelite | |
| Dolomite (rock) | A synonym of 'Dolostone' |
IMA Classification of Dolomite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Dolomite
5.AB.10
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 7th ed.:
14.2.1.1
14.2.1.1
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
11.4.6
11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
11 : Carbonates
4 : Carbonates of Ca
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Dol | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Dol | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279. |
| Dol | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Dol | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Dol | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
| Dol | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Physical Properties of Dolomite
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Usually not vitreous or sub-vitreous
Colour:
Colourless, white, gray, reddish-white, brownish-white, green (rarely), or pink; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {1011}.
On {1011}.
Parting:
Noted in lamellar twins on {0221}. Twin gliding on {0221};
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Translation gliding:
translation gliding with T{0001}, t[1010].
Density:
2.84 - 2.86 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.876 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Dolomite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.679 - 1.681 nε = 1.500 - 1.503
Birefringence:
0.179
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.178 - 0.179
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Optical Extinction:
Parallel
Comments:
Anomalously biaxial.
Chemistry of Dolomite
Mindat Formula:
CaMg(CO3)2
Ca can exist in excess of up to 0.25 apfu in non-stoichiometric dolomite (Nascimento dos Santos et al., 2017). See also Chai et al. (1995) and Drits et al. (2005).
Ca can exist in excess of up to 0.25 apfu in non-stoichiometric dolomite (Nascimento dos Santos et al., 2017). See also Chai et al. (1995) and Drits et al. (2005).
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mn,Co,Pb,Zn
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| MgO | 46.97 % |
| CaO | 50.95 % |
| SiO2 | 0.64 % |
| FeO | 1.12 % |
| Total: | 99.68 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Impensada Mine, Pacios, Vila de Mouros, Incio, Lugo, Galicia, Spain | Several samples analysed with XRF in the laboratory of Magnesitas de Rubian company. |
Crystallography of Dolomite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:
R3
Setting:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.8012(1) Å, c = 16.002 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.333
Unit Cell V:
319.45 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Crystals typically rhombohedral with {1011} or {4041} dominant, may also be prismatic {1120} terminated by rhombohedral faces; tabular {0001} with {1120}; {1011} often striated horizontally or curved - "saddle" or "fingernail" habit. Also massive, coarse to fine granular, fibrous or pisolitic.
Twinning:
On {0001}, common with re-entrant angles around the middle edges; on {1010} common; on {1120}, common, as complementary twins simulating holohedral symmetry; also as double twins by combination of this law and twins on {1010} or {0001}. On {1011}, rare. On {0221} as lamellae, especially in grains of dolomite marble.
Crystallographic forms of Dolomite
Crystal Atlas:
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Dolomite no.2 - {401} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Dolomite no.7 - {101} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Dolomite no.18 - {100} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Dolomite no.54 - {101} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Dolomite no.59 - {401} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Dolomite no.89 - {001} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0006031 | Dolomite | Drits V A, McCarty D K, Sakharov B, Milliken K L (2005) New insight into structural and compositional variability in some ancient excess-Ca dolomite The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1255-1290 |  | 2005 | Coke County, Texas, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0006030 | Dolomite | Drits V A, McCarty D K, Sakharov B, Milliken K L (2005) New insight into structural and compositional variability in some ancient excess-Ca dolomite The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1255-1290 | | 2005 | Coke County, Texas, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0006029 | Dolomite | Drits V A, McCarty D K, Sakharov B, Milliken K L (2005) New insight into structural and compositional variability in some ancient excess-Ca dolomite The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1255-1290 | | 2005 | Lea County, New Mexico, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0006028 | Dolomite | Drits V A, McCarty D K, Sakharov B, Milliken K L (2005) New insight into structural and compositional variability in some ancient excess-Ca dolomite The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1255-1290 | | 2005 | Lea County, New Mexico, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0006027 | Dolomite | Drits V A, McCarty D K, Sakharov B, Milliken K L (2005) New insight into structural and compositional variability in some ancient excess-Ca dolomite The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1255-1290 | | 2005 | Lea County, New Mexico, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0006026 | Dolomite | Drits V A, McCarty D K, Sakharov B, Milliken K L (2005) New insight into structural and compositional variability in some ancient excess-Ca dolomite The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1255-1290 | | 2005 | Lea County, New Mexico, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0020832 | Dolomite | Effenberger H, Mereiter K, Zemann J (1981) Crystal structure refinements of magnesite, calcite, rhodochrosite, siderite, smithsonite, and dolomite, with discussion of some aspects of the stereochemistry of calcite type carbonates Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 156 233-243 | | 1981 | Pberdorf, Styria, Austria | 0 | 293 |
| 0015666 | Dolomite | Beran A, Zemann J (1977) Refinement and comparison of the crystal structures of a dolomite and of an Fe-rich ankerite Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 24 279-286 | 1977 | Oberdorf, Styria, Austria | 0 | 293 | |
| 0006032 | Dolomite | Drits V A, McCarty D K, Sakharov B, Milliken K L (2005) New insight into structural and compositional variability in some ancient excess-Ca dolomite The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1255-1290 | | 2005 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001453 | Dolomite | Ross N L, Reeder R J (1992) High-pressure structural study of dolomite and ankerite American Mineralogist 77 412-421 | | 1992 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001272 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Dollase W A (1989) Structural variation in the dolomite-ankerite solid-solution series: An X-ray, Mossbauer, and TEM study sample BM 1931-294 American Mineralogist 74 1159-1167 | | 1989 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001065 | Dolomite | Miser D E, Swinnea J S, Steinfink H (1987) TEM observations and X-ray crystal-structure refinement of a twinned dolomite with a modulated microstructure American Mineralogist 72 188-193 | | 1987 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001033 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Markgraf S A (1986) High-temperature crystal chemistry of dolomite American Mineralogist 71 795-804 | | 1986 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001032 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Markgraf S A (1986) High-temperature crystal chemistry of dolomite American Mineralogist 71 795-804 | | 1986 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001031 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Markgraf S A (1986) High-temperature crystal chemistry of dolomite American Mineralogist 71 795-804 | | 1986 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001030 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Markgraf S A (1986) High-temperature crystal chemistry of dolomite American Mineralogist 71 795-804 | | 1986 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001029 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Markgraf S A (1986) High-temperature crystal chemistry of dolomite American Mineralogist 71 795-804 | | 1986 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001028 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Markgraf S A (1986) High-temperature crystal chemistry of dolomite American Mineralogist 71 795-804 | | 1986 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001027 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Markgraf S A (1986) High-temperature crystal chemistry of dolomite American Mineralogist 71 795-804 | | 1986 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001026 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Markgraf S A (1986) High-temperature crystal chemistry of dolomite American Mineralogist 71 795-804 | | 1986 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000906 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Wenk H R (1983) Structure refinements of some thermally disordered dolomites sample DO - 1100 American Mineralogist 68 769-776 | | 1983 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000905 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Wenk H R (1983) Structure refinements of some thermally disordered dolomites sample DO - 1050 American Mineralogist 68 769-776 | | 1983 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000904 | Dolomite | Reeder R J, Wenk H R (1983) Structure refinements of some thermally disordered dolomites sample EU American Mineralogist 68 769-776 | | 1983 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000584 | Dolomite | Althoff P L (1977) Structural refinements of dolomite and a magnesian calcite and implications for dolomite formation in the marine environment American Mineralogist 62 772-783 | | 1977 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000108 | Dolomite | Graf D L (1961) Crystallographic tables for the rhombohedral carbonates American Mineralogist 46 1283-1316 | | 1961 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000086 | Dolomite | Steinfink H, Sans F J (1959) Refinement of the crystal structure of dolomite American Mineralogist 44 679-682 | 1959 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0001454 | Dolomite | Ross N L, Reeder R J (1992) High-pressure structural study of dolomite and ankerite American Mineralogist 77 412-421 | | 1992 | 1.5 | 293 | |
| 0001455 | Dolomite | Ross N L, Reeder R J (1992) High-pressure structural study of dolomite and ankerite American Mineralogist 77 412-421 | | 1992 | 2.9 | 293 | |
| 0003598 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 293 | |
| 0003599 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 630 | |
| 0003600 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 675 | |
| 0003601 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 809 | |
| 0003602 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 925 | |
| 0003603 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 999 | |
| 0003604 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1039 | |
| 0003606 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1070 | |
| 0003605 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1074 | |
| 0003607 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1106 | |
| 0003608 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1142 | |
| 0003609 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1171 | |
| 0003610 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1205 | |
| 0003611 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1234 | |
| 0003612 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1265 | |
| 0003613 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1292 | |
| 0003614 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1320 | |
| 0003615 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1346 | |
| 0003616 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1362 | |
| 0003617 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1394 | |
| 0003618 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1400 | |
| 0003619 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1443 | |
| 0003620 | Dolomite | Antao S M, Mulder W H, Hassan I, Crichton W A, Parise J B (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite+magnesite - dolomite reaction boundary American Mineralogist 89 1142-1147 | | 2004 | 3 | 1466 | |
| 0001456 | Dolomite | Ross N L, Reeder R J (1992) High-pressure structural study of dolomite and ankerite American Mineralogist 77 412-421 | | 1992 | 3.7 | 293 | |
| 0001457 | Dolomite | Ross N L, Reeder R J (1992) High-pressure structural study of dolomite and ankerite American Mineralogist 77 412-421 | | 1992 | 4.69 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Epitaxial Relationships of Dolomite
Epitaxial Minerals:
| 'Antigorite' | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 'Calcite' | CaCO3 |
| Chlorite Group | |
| 'Rhodochrosite' | MnCO3 |
| 'Siderite' | FeCO3 |
Epitaxy Comments:
Growths of dolomite on calcite or vice versa, with parallel axes; also dolomite on rhodochrosite or siderite. Also occurs in oriented growths with antigorite (uncertain), and with chlorite [{0001} and {001} parallel].
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.03 Å | (3) |
| 4.69 Å | (5) |
| 3.70 Å | (10) |
| 2.886 Å | (100) |
| 2.670 Å | (10) |
| 2.540 Å | (8) |
| 2.405 Å | (10) |
| 2.192 Å | (30) |
| 2.066 Å | (5) |
| 2.015 Å | (15) |
| 1.848 Å | (5) |
| 1.804 Å | (20) |
| 1.787 Å | (30b) |
Comments:
ICDD 11-78, ICDD 34-517 (ferroan)
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Geological Setting:
An important sedimentary and metamorphic mineral found as the principal mineral in dolostones and metadolostones, and as an important mineral in limestones and marbles where calcite is the principal mineral present. Also found as a hydrothermal vein mineral, forming crystals in cavities; and found in serpentinites and similar rocks.
Synonyms of Dolomite
Other Language Names for Dolomite
Dutch:Dolomiet
German:Dolomit
Bitterkalk
Bittersalzerde
Bitterspat (of Klaproth)
Kalktalkspath
Kohlensauere Kalkerde
Magnesiocalcit
Magnesiodolomit
Miemit
Muricalcit
Paratomes Kalk-Haloid
Perlspath
Rauhkalk
Rautenspath
Rhombenspat
Rhomboidalspath
Ridolfit
Taraspit
Wandstein
Bitterkalk
Bittersalzerde
Bitterspat (of Klaproth)
Kalktalkspath
Kohlensauere Kalkerde
Magnesiocalcit
Magnesiodolomit
Miemit
Muricalcit
Paratomes Kalk-Haloid
Perlspath
Rauhkalk
Rautenspath
Rhombenspat
Rhomboidalspath
Ridolfit
Taraspit
Wandstein
Japanese:苦灰石
Portuguese:Dolomite
Russian:Доломит
Simplified Chinese:白云石
Varieties of Dolomite
| Brossite | A ferroan variety of Dolomite with up to 10% FeCO3 (Siderite component). Originally reported from Brosso Mine, Cálea, Léssolo, Canavese District, Torino Province, Piedmont, Italy. |
| Cobalt-bearing Dolomite | A Co2+-bearing variety of dolomite. Samples from Příbram, Czech Republic, contain 5.17% CoO. |
| Greinerite | A manganese-bearing variety of dolomite, but probably only a dolomite with a faint manganese content. The type material is lost. |
| Iron-bearing Dolomite | Fe-bearing, relatively common variety of dolomite. Can be distinguished from ankerite only by analytical means. |
| Kugeldolomit | Orbicular variety of dolomite, often containing a core of pinolitic magnesite (see pinolite). Also known as "Kordendolomit". This variety seems so far only known from the magnesite deposit at Sunk (Styria, Austria). |
| Manganese-bearing Dolomite | A Mn-bearing dolomite. |
| Mg-rich Dolomite | A dolomite with Mg > Ca by a significant amount. |
| Plumbodolomite | A Pb-bearing variety of dolomite. |
| Taraspite | A banded, green sinter dolomite, owing its colour to minor contents of nickel (0.1-0.3% NiO) and iron (0.75-6% FeO). The material is used for carving. |
| Teruelite | Dark or black iron rich (10% of the magnesium site) dolomite found as euhedral crystals embedded in gypsum-rich marls, originally described from Teruel, Aragón, Spain. The name has been used in recent times for similar dolomite crystals of any colour,... |
| Zinc-bearing Dolomite | A variety of dolomite containing Zinc |
Relationship of Dolomite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Dolomite Group:
| Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Minrecordite | CaZn(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Norsethite | BaMg(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 2 : R3 2 |
| Škáchaite | CaCo(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| 'Unnamed (Pb analogue of Dolomite)' | PbMg(CO3)2 |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4,753 photos of Dolomite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4,670 photos of Dolomite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 2,746 photos of Dolomite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 2,563 photos of Dolomite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 2,331 photos of Dolomite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 2,057 photos of Dolomite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 1,424 photos of Dolomite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 990 photos of Dolomite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 865 photos of Dolomite associated with Cinnabar | HgS |
| 757 photos of Dolomite associated with Marcasite | FeS2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.AB.05 | Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Gaspéite | NiCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Spherocobaltite | CoCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Otavite | CdCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 va | 'Parakutnohorite' | |
| 5.AB.10 | Minrecordite | CaZn(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Škáchaite | CaCo(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.15 | Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Witherite | BaCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Strontianite | SrCO3 |
| 5.AB.20 | Vaterite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.25 | Huntite | CaMg3(CO3)4 |
| 5.AB.30 | Norsethite | BaMg(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.35 | Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.40 | Paralstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.40 | Olekminskite | Sr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.45 | Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.50 | Carbocernaite | (Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.55 | Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| 5.AB.60 | Juangodoyite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 |
Fluorescence of Dolomite
Some types fluoresce white, blue white, creamy yellow, etc. in either SW or LW UV. Manganoan varieties may fluoresce pale pink through intense red, but weaker in long wave.
Other Information
Notes:
Very slowly dissolved in cold acids. Powder readily dissolves in warm acids with effervescence.
May exhibit triboluminescence.
Dolomite and ferroan dolomite occur frequently as pseudomorphs after calcite and also after aragonite. Rarely pseudomorphic after cerussite, baryte and fluorite.
Several species have been recognized as incrustation or substitution pseudomorphs after dolomite crystals. These include siderite, calcite, smithsonite, quartz, talc, limonite; and more rarely, hematite, pyrite, malachite, azurite, magnetite, cinnabar, sphalerite, pyrolusite, marcasite and serpentine.
May exhibit triboluminescence.
Dolomite and ferroan dolomite occur frequently as pseudomorphs after calcite and also after aragonite. Rarely pseudomorphic after cerussite, baryte and fluorite.
Several species have been recognized as incrustation or substitution pseudomorphs after dolomite crystals. These include siderite, calcite, smithsonite, quartz, talc, limonite; and more rarely, hematite, pyrite, malachite, azurite, magnetite, cinnabar, sphalerite, pyrolusite, marcasite and serpentine.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
A major source of magnesium, particularly for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications.
Dolomite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
- Igneous rock
- Sedimentary rock and sediment
- Sediment
- Sedimentary rock
- Biochemical and chemical sedimentary rock
- Carbonate rock
- Limestone
- Dolostone
- Calcareous dolostone
- Dolomite-mudstone
- Ankerite-mudstone
- Dolomite-wackestone
- Ankerite-wackestone
- Dolomite-packstone
- Ankerite-packstone
- Dolomite-grainstone
- Ankerite-grainstone
- Dolomite-boundstone
- Ankerite-boundstone
- Dolomite-framestone
- Ankerite-framestone
- Dolomite-pseudosparstone
- Ankerite-pseudosparstone
- Dolomite-sparstone
- Ankerite-sparstone
- Dolomite-microsparstone
- Ankerite-microsparstone
- Dolomite-microstone
- Ankerite-microstone
- Ooid-dolostone
- Pisoid-dolostone
- Oncoid-dolostone
- Microoncoid-dolostone
- Peloid-dolostone
- Mud-grade dolostone
- Sand-grade dolostone
- Gravel-grade dolostone
- Magnesite-stone
- Limestone
- Carbonate rock
- Biochemical and chemical sedimentary rock
- Metamorphic rock
Internet Links for Dolomite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1304.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Dolomite
Reference List:
William Hyde Wollaston (1812) VIII. On the primitive crystals of carbonate of lime, bitter-spar, and iron-spar. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London, 102. 159-162 doi:10.1098/rstl.1812.0010
Hausmann, Johann Friedrich Ludwig (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie (1st ed.). Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht. p.960 - as Bitterkalk
Honess, Arthur P. (1917) A study of the etching figures of the hexagonal-alternating type of crystals. American Mineralogist, 2 (5) 57-61
Mitchell, Allan Ernest (1923) Studies on the dolomite system. Part I. The nature of dolomite. J. Chem. Soc., Trans., 123. 1055-1069 doi:10.1039/ct9232301055
Schoklitsch, Karl (1935) Beitrag zur Physiographie steirischer Karbonspäte. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographies, 90 (4). 433-445 doi:10.1524/zkri.1935.90.1.433
Rodgers, J. (1940) Distinction between calcite and dolomite on polished surfaces. American Journal of Science, 238 (11) 788-798 doi:10.2475/ajs.238.11.788
Fairbairn, H. W., Hawkes, H. E. (1941) Dolomite orientation in deformed rocks. American Journal of Science, 239 (9) 617-632 doi:10.2475/ajs.239.9.617
Smythe, J. A., Dunham, K. C. (1947) Ankerites and chalybites from the northern Pennine orefield and the north-east coalfield. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 28 (197) 53-74 doi:10.1180/minmag.1947.028.197.01
Wickman, F. E. (1948) From the notes of the late K. Johansson. I. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 70 (2) 349-350 doi:10.1080/11035894809454092
Faust, George T. (1949) Dedolomitization, and its relation to a possible derivation of a magnesium-rich hydrothermal solution. American Mineralogist, 34 (11-12) 789-823
Goldsmith, Julian R., Graf, Donald L., Witters, Juanita, Northrop, David A. (1962) Studies in the System CaCO3-MgCO3-FeCO3: 1. Phase Relations; 2. A Method for Major-Element Spectrochemical Analysis; 3. Compositions of Some Ferroan Dolomites. The Journal of Geology, 70 (6) 659-688 doi:10.1086/626865
van der Veen, Adriaan H. (1965) Calcite-dolomite intergrowths in high-temperature carbonate rocks. American Mineralogist, 50 (11-12). 2070-2077
Peterson, M. N. A., vonderBorch, C. C., Bien, G. S. (1966) Growth of dolomite crystals. American Journal of Science, 264 (4) 257-272 doi:10.2475/ajs.264.4.257
Effenberger, H., Mereiter, Κ., Zemann, J. (1981) Crystal structure refinements of magnesite, calcite, rhodochrosite, siderite, smithonite [sic], and dolomite, with discussion of some aspects of the stereochemistry of calcite type carbonates. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 156 (1-4) 233 doi:10.1524/zkri.1981.156.14.233
Reeder, Richard J., Dollase, Wayne A. (1989) Structural variation in the dolomite-ankerite solid-solution series: An X-ray, Mössbauer, and TEM study. American Mineralogist, 74 (9-10) 1159-1167
Ross, Nancy L., Reeder, Richard J. (1992) High-pressure structural study of dolomite and ankerite. American Mineralogist, 77 (3-4) 412-421
Tareen, J. A. K., Fazeli, A. R., Basavalingu, B., Bhandage, G. T. (1992) Thermodynamic Data for Dolomite and Kutnahorite from the Experimental Decarbonation Curves. Journal Geological Society of India, 40 (6). 545-556 doi:10.17491/jgsi/1992/400606
El Ali, Ahmad; Barbin, Vincent; Calas, Georges; Cervelle, Bernard; Ramseyer, Karl; Bouroulec, Jacqueline (1993) Mn2+-activated luminescence in dolomite, calcite and magnesite: quantitative determination of manganese and site distribution by EPR and CL spectroscopy. Chemical Geology, 104 (1-4). 189-202 doi:10.1016/0009-2541(93)90150-h
Chai, L., Navrotsky, A., Reeder, R.J. (1995) Energetics of calcium-rich dolomite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 59 (5) 939-944 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(95)00011-9
Antao, Sytle M., Mulder, Willem H., Hassan, Ishmael, Crichton, Wilson A., Parise, John B. (2004) Cation disorder in dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, and its influence on the aragonite + magnesite ↔ dolomite reaction boundary. American Mineralogist, 89 (7) 1142-1147 doi:10.2138/am-2004-0728
Drits, V. A., McCarty, D. K., Sakharov, B., Milliken, K. L. (2005) NEW INSIGHT INTO STRUCTURAL AND COMPOSITIONAL VARIABILITY IN SOME ANCIENT EXCESS-Ca DOLOMITE. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (4) 1255-1290 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.4.1255
Shen, Z., Konishi, H., Brown, P. E., Xu, H. (2013) STEM investigation of exsolution lamellae and "c" reflections in Ca-rich dolomite from the Platteville Formation, western Wisconsin. American Mineralogist, 98 (4) 760-766 doi:10.2138/am.2013.4184
Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Shaw, Samuel, Benning, Liane G. (2015) A route for the direct crystallization of dolomite. American Mineralogist, 100 (5) 1172-1181 doi:10.2138/am-2015-4963
Perchiazzi, Natale (2015) Crystal structure study of a cobaltoan dolomite from Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo. Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications, 71 (3). i3 doi:10.1107/s2056989015003126
Banerjee, Amlan (2016) Estimation of dolomite formation: Dolomite precipitation and dolomitization. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 87 (5) 561-572 doi:10.1007/s12594-016-0430-9
dos Santos, Hélisson, Neumann, Reiner, Ávila, Ciro Alexandre (2017) Mineral Quantification with Simultaneous Refinement of Ca-Mg Carbonates Non-Stoichiometry by X-ray Diffraction, Rietveld Method. Minerals, 7 (9) 164 doi:10.3390/min7090164
Pina, Carlos M., Pimentel, Carlos, Crespo, Ángel (2022) The Dolomite Problem: A Matter of Time. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 6 (6) 1468-1471 doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.2c00078
Keykha, Hamed Abdeh; Zangani, Alireza; Romiani, Hadi Mohamadzadeh; Asadi, Afshin; Kawasaki, Satoru; Radmanesh, Niloofar (2023) Characterizing Microbial and CO2-Induced Carbonate Minerals: Implications for Soil Stabilization in Sandy Environments. Minerals, 13 (7). 976 doi:10.3390/min13070976
Alves, Julliana F., Edwards, Howell G. M., Korsakov, Andrey, Oliveira, Luiz Fernando C. (2023) Revisiting the Raman Spectra of Carbonate Minerals. Minerals, 13 (11) 1358 doi:10.3390/min13111358
Keykha, Hamed Abdeh; Zangani, Alireza; Romiani, Hadi Mohamadzadeh; Asadi, Afshin; Kawasaki, Satoru; Radmanesh, Niloofar (2023) Characterizing Microbial and CO2-Induced Carbonate Minerals: Implications for Soil Stabilization in Sandy Environments. Minerals, 13 (7). 976 doi:10.3390/min13070976
Alves, Julliana F., Edwards, Howell G. M., Korsakov, Andrey, Oliveira, Luiz Fernando C. (2023) Revisiting the Raman Spectra of Carbonate Minerals. Minerals, 13 (11) 1358 doi:10.3390/min13111358
Adami, Luca; Ardit, Matteo; Bonadiman, Costanza; Dondi, Michele; Mancinelli, Maura; Lepore, Giovanni Orazio; Spagnoli, Elena; Nodari, Luca; Tassinari, Renzo; Zoleo, Alfonso; et al. (2025) When colour makes minerals unique: the case of the green dolomite from Malentrata (Pomarance, Tuscany, Italy). European Journal of Mineralogy, 37 (4). 517-533 doi:10.5194/ejm-37-517-2025
Significant localities for Dolomite
Showing 25 significant localities out of 13,326 recorded on mindat.org.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Landesmuseum Joanneum (Graz, Styria) +1 other reference |
Bolivia | |
| Wilson (2001) |
Brazil | |
| Rocks & Minerals: 63: 43. +3 other references |
Canada | |
| Gait et al. (1990) +2 other references |
DR Congo | |
| [var: Cobalt-bearing Dolomite] De Bondt (n.d.) |
France | |
| Alain Steinmetz and Thierry Brunsperger ... |
| Michel Treillard (visual identification) |
Ireland | |
| Flannery (n.d.) +1 other reference |
| Dr Stephen Moreton |
Italy | |
| Gruppo Mineralogico Lombardo (10) +2 other references |
Peru | |
| Imai et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar (2008) |
| Gómez Fernández et al. (2006) +1 other reference |
| Castro et al. (2001) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2012) |
| Victor Pais Collection +1 other reference |
| Calvo et al. (1991) |
| [var: Teruelite] Honrubia et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Januzzi et al. (1976) |
| T. Kennedy collection +3 other references |
| Visual identification by Mike Polletta |
| Robinson et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| - (Dana, 1874) +1 other reference |
| Rocks & Min.: 17:51 +2 other references |
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Friedrichssegen Mine, Friedrichssegen, Lahnstein, Rhein-Lahn-Kreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany