Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing more than 50 percent of the mineral dolomite by weight
From French, from the name of Dolomieu (1750–1801), the French geologist who discovered the rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Pink, White
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
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
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Host Rock for Lead, Traps for subsurface fluids like Oil and Natural Gas., Zinc and Copper Deposits
Archaeological Significance
Dolomite rocks are originally deposited as calcite or aragonite rich limestone, but during diagenesis process, the calcite or aragonite is transformed into dolomite.
Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides
NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
Transparent to Translucent
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Austria, Italy, Romania, Spain, Switzerland
Deposits in Western Continents
Deposits in Oceania Continent
New South Wales, Queensland, Yorke Peninsula
Learn more about Properties of Dolomite
What is Dolomite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Dolomite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Dolomite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Dolomite is 140.00 N/mm2. Streak of Dolomite is white while its cleavage is perfect. Luster of Dolomite is vitreous and pearly and its fracture is conchoidal. Dolomite is transparent to translucent in nature. Know all about Dolomite, What is Dolomite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.
Know about Composition of Dolomite
What is Dolomite composed of? Get to know about composition of Dolomite here. Dolomite definition gives information about the Formation of Dolomite and its composition.The composition of Dolomite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Dolomite rock includes Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides and The compound content of Dolomite rock includes NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Dolomite rock in next section.