Dolomite is a mineral, as well as a sedimentary rock, consisting of 95% of the mineral dolomite. May be confused with calcite, especially as it occurs in association with it. Just like calcite, it reacts with hydrochloric acid, but unlike it, it does not boil up, but slowly dissolves in it. Boils violently only in hot hydrochloric acid. Dolomite, depending on the chemical composition and color, has a number of varieties. Widely used in construction.
You can see dolomite stone for sale and buy it in the Minerals of Russia online store.
General | |
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Category | Carbonate minerals |
Formula (repeating unit) |
CaMg(CO3)2 |
IMA symbol | Dol |
Strunz classification | 5.AB.10 |
Crystal system | Trigonal |
Crystal class | Rhombohedral (3) H-M symbol: (3) |
Space group | R3 |
Unit cell | a = 4.8012(1), c = 16.002 [Å]; Z = 3 |
Identification | |
Color | White, grey to pink, reddish-white, brownish-white; colourless in transmitted light |
Crystal habit | Tabular crystals, often with curved faces, also columnar, stalactitic, granular, massive. |
Twinning | Common as simple contact twins |
Cleavage | 3 directions of cleavage not at right angles |
Fracture | Conchoidal |
Tenacity | Brittle |
Mohs scale hardness | 3.5-4 |
Luster | Vitreous to pearly |
Streak | White |
Specific gravity | 2.84–2.86 |
Optical properties | Uniaxial (-) |
Refractive index | nω = 1.679–1.681 nε = 1.500 |
Birefringence | δ = 0.179–0.181 |
Solubility | Poorly soluble in dilute HCl |
Other characteristics | May fluoresce white to pink under UV; triboluminescent. Ksp values vary between 1x10−19 to 1x10−17 |