Dolomite

Description : Dolomite is common sedimentary rock-forming mineral. It is a type of limestone. Dolomite often comes in pink or pinkish and can be colorless, white, and yellow. Color variations are due to impurity of iron. It is widely used in cement industry and as a source of magnesium. It occurs in dolomite marble and dolomite-rich veins and igneous rock known as dolomite carbonatite. Dolomite carbonatite are rare to found. Associated Minerals of dolomite include calcite, sulfide ore minerals, fluorite, barite and quartz.
Occurrence
United States Australia Austria Brazil Canada China India Italy Mexico Romania Germany Spain Switzerland

Uses of Dolomite

Dolomite used for daily use applications such as Refractory, Detergents, soaps, Flux, Ink, Iron and steel.

It is also used as a soil conditioner, as building stone, steel melting shop, Powder coating, Paint, Ceramic industry, Glass, Construction, as Chemical and as Petroleum reservoir rock.

Dolomite is used as an ornamental stone.
Dolomite is widely used as a Concrete aggregate.
Dolomite is most common source of magnesium oxide.
Dolomite is widely used for the production of magnesium.
Dolomite is also used in the production of float glass.
Dolomite can be use as ore of metallic magnesium.
Dolomite is also used as Petroleum reservoir rock.
Dolomite is used as a flux for the smelting of iron and steel.
Dolomite is also used as building stones, refractory bricks for furnace linings.

Physical Properties of Dolomite

Color :	White, gray to pink
Crystal system :	Trigonal
Cleavage :	Perfect
Tenacity :	Brittle
Hardness Mohs scale :	3.5 - 4
Luster :	Vitreous to pearly,
Gravity :	2.84 - 2.86
Density :	2.84 - 2.86 g/cm3

Chemical Composition

Chemical Formula :	CaMg (CO₃)₂
chemically Dolomite is Carbonate of calcium and magnesium.
CaO :	100%
MgO :	46.74 %
CO₂ :	53.26 %

Features of Dolomite

High whiteness
Hardness
Low moisture absorption
Translucent
Resistance to acids
Good lustrous
Contents high amount of magnesium
High density

Varieties of Dolomite

Brossite Dolomite:
	Brossite is a ferroan variety of Dolomite. Originally founds in Torino Province, Piedmont, Italy. It contains more than or equal to 10% FeCo₃. It is a crystallized variety contains iron. It is also known as Normal-ankerite, Normal Parankerite, Siderocalcite and Thorandite.
Cobaltoan Dolomite:
	Cobaltoan Dolomite is a cobaltoan variety of Dolomite. This variety produces in Czech Republic, Morocco, Namibia. This variety contains approximately 5.17% CaO. Cobaltoan Dolomite consists of C, Ca and O. Chemical formula is (Ca,Mg,Co)Co₃. It is also known as Cobaltian Dolomite, Cobaltidolomite and Cobaltodolomite.
Ferroan Dolomite:
	Ferroan Dolomite is Fe-bearing dolomite variety. It is a species of ankerite, contains less than 20% manganese. This magnesium replaced by iron or manganese. This variety produce from Australia, Poland, United Kingdom. Chemical formula is (Fe,Mg,Ca)Co₃.
Gurhofian Dolomite:
	Gurhofian name is taken from its reported place,“Gurhof”. This is white, yellowish white color variety. It’s a microcrystalline form of dolomite. It is one of the rarest dolomite varieties, consists of gel. It is also known as Geldolomite, Gurhofite and Protodolomite. Originally occurs in Gurhof, Aggsbach Dorf, Dunkelstein forest, Lower Austria, Austria.
Manganoan Dolomite:
	Manganoan Dolomite is magnesium rich dolomite. It is a Mn-bearing dolomite. Manganoan Dolomite produces from Australia, China, Brazil, Greece, Morocco, North Korea, Peru, Russia and USA.
Taraspite Dolomite:
	Taraspite is a banded and green sinter dolomite. This color is result of nickel (0.1-0.3% NiO) and iron (0.75-6% FeO) impurities. This material is used or carving purpose. Mainly founds in Switzerland. Name of this dolomite is derived from its production place “Tarasp”, Switzerland.