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Dolomite

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Dolomite

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Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals - Close View

Chemical Group: Carbonates

Chemical Formula: CaMg(CO₃)₂

Color: Colorless, white, gray, greenish, pink, yellowish brown

Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Transparency: Transparent to translucent

Hardness: 3.5 to 4 Specific Gravity: 2.85 Streak: White

Cleavage: Rhombohedral, 3 directions

Fracture: Sub-conchoidal

Crystal Forms and Habits: Trigonal system. Crystals are commonly rhombohedrons. Saddle-shaped curved crystals are common. Often in massive form, similar to limestone.

Mineral Associations: Specimens from the Tri-State district often have chalcopyrite crystals with the dolomite.

Identifying Characteristics: Closely resembles calcite but reacts slower with the application of cold dilute hydrochloric acid than calcite.

Uses: In pill form as a calcium source. Also used for a building and ornamental stone

Occurrences: Tri-State district, and Penfield Quarry, New York

Toxicity: When-swallowed: low When-inhaled: moderate

Additional Information: Dolomite was named after the French mineralogist, Dolomieu.

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Photos

Dolomite 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

dolomite-cluster of curved crystals — Dolomite - Cluster Of Curved Crystals

dolomite- cluster of curved crystals — Dolomite - Cluster Of Curved Crystals

dolomite-cluster of white saddle-shaped crystals — Dolomite - Cluster Of White Saddle - Shaped Crystals

dolomite-cluster of light yellow rhombohedral crystals — Dolomite - Cluster Of Light Yellow Rhombohedral Crystals

dolomite-gray massive with white calcite — Dolomite - Gray Massive With White Calcite

dolomite-brown crystal--Terlingua Texas — Dolomite - Brown Crystal - Terlingua Texas

dolomite-pink curved rhombohedral crystals — Dolomite - Pink Curved Rhombohedral Crystals

dolomite-gray-massive- — Dolomite – Gray - Massive

dolomite-pink curved crystal-close view — Dolomite - Pink Curved Crystal - Close View

dolomite-pink curved rhombohedral crystals — Dolomite - Pink Curved Rhombohedral Crystals

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystal - Close View

dolomite-small crystals with one sphalerite crystal — Dolomite - Small Crystals With One Sphalerite Crystal

Dolomite - Pink - Massive

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals

dolomite-white rhombohedral crystals — Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals

Dolomite - White Rhombohedral Crystals - Close View

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