Properties & uses

Dolomite is named after the French mineralogist named Dolomieru. Dolomite is a natural stone with double carbonate of calcium and magnesium having composition (CaCO3. MgCO3).It is formed in nature by action of magnesium- bearing solution (sea water, underground water or hydrothermal solution) on calcite — the process being called dolomitization.Dolomite is a widely occurring mineral,generally mined from shallow depths.

Dolomite Physical properties:

Compressive strength: 2,000 to 37,000 psi.The main factors responsible for strength of carbonate rocks are their interlocking grain fabric and their mineralogy. Strength of carbonate rocks generally increases over geologic time because of recrystallization and associated decreasing porosity. Consequently, geologically older carbonate rocks tend to be stronger than younger rocks.

Optical properties – MgCO3 in Dolomite is pure white and it has an average refractive index of 1.5 but is optically anisotropic (i.e., refractive index changes with variations in the orientation of the crystals). Thus obtained MgCO3 from dolomite is used in pharmaceuticals.

1. Bulk Density - 83 gm/cc
2. Specific Gravity – 0.84 gm/cc
3. Color – White of the purest variety to reddish or greenish white depending on impurities
4. Hardness – Its Mohs hardness is 3.5-4.0
5. PH – Dolomite is basic in nature with a PH of > 9