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Dolomite vs Oolite


Oolite vs Dolomite


Definition

Definition
Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing more than 50 percent of the mineral dolomite by weight   
Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite   

History
  
  

Origin
Southern Alps, France   
Unknown   

Discoverer
Dolomieu   
Unknown   

Etymology
From French, from the name of Dolomieu (1750–1801), the French geologist who discovered the rock   
From oo- + -lite, after German Oolit. A rock consisting of fine grains of carbonate of lime   

Class
Sedimentary Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Volcanic   

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Earthy   
Clastic or Non-Clastic   

Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White   
Black, Blue, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Silver, White, Yellow   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
No   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Glassy or Pearly   
Rounded and Rough   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration   

Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings   
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone   

Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Serves as an Oil and Gas Reservoir rock   
Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping   

Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)   
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Used in aquariums   

Types

Types
Boninite and Jasperoid   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Traps for subsurface fluids like Oil and Natural Gas., Zinc and Copper Deposits   
Available in lots of colors, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Present   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Dolomite rocks are originally deposited as calcite or aragonite rich limestone, but during diagenesis process, the calcite or aragonite is transformed into dolomite.   
Oolites form when layers of calcite are deposited around a sand grain or fossil piece and are rolled around in calm water, which makes them round.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides   
Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt   

Compound Content
NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO   
Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
No   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Not Applicable   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
No   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Not Applicable   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3.5-4   
3-4   

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Vitreous and Pearly   
Pearly to Shiny   

Compressive Strength
140.00 N/mm2   
15
Not Available   

Cleavage
Perfect   
Non-Existent   

Toughness
1   
1   

Specific Gravity
2.8-3   
Not Available   

Transparency
Transparent to Translucent   
Opaque   

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   
Not Available   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
Not Available   

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India   
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam   

Africa
Morocco, Namibia   
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe   

Europe
Austria, Italy, Romania, Spain, Switzerland   
United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Mexico, USA   
USA   

South America
Brazil, Colombia   
Colombia   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New South Wales, Queensland, Yorke Peninsula   
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula   

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Dolomite vs Oolite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Dolomite and Oolite Reserves. Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing more than 50 percent of the mineral dolomite by weight. Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Dolomite vs Oolite information and Dolomite vs Oolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Dolomite vs Oolite Characteristics

Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Dolomite vs Oolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Dolomite and Properties of Oolite. Learn more about Dolomite vs Oolite in the next section. The interior uses of Dolomite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Oolite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Dolomite and Oolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Dolomite in construction industry include As a flux in the production of steel and pig iron, As a sintering agent in steel industry to process iron ore, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories, Production of glass and ceramics, Serves as an oil and gas reservoir rock and that of Oolite include Cement manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping.

More about Dolomite and Oolite

Here you can know more about Dolomite and Oolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Dolomite and Oolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Dolomite includes Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides and mineral content of Oolite includes Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Dolomite vs Oolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Dolomite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas, Oolite is available in black, blue, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, silver, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Dolomite is Glassy or Pearly and that of Oolite is Rounded and Rough. Properties of rock is another aspect for Dolomite vs Oolite. The hardness of Dolomite is 3.5-4 and that of Oolite is 3-4. The types of Dolomite are Boninite and Jasperoid whereas types of Oolite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Dolomite and Oolite is white. The specific heat capacity of Dolomite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Oolite is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Dolomite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Oolite is heat resistant, wear resistant.

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