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Download hereGENERAL DESCRIPTION
Dolomite is a double magnesium and calcium carbonate, which is formed in hydrothermal veins and sedimentary rocks.
The dolomite crystals are generally rhomboedric, colourless or white. As the principal constituting of dolomites (sedimentary rocks), it is also massive. In contrast to calcite, dolomite does not crystallize often as scalenohedra.
One will note the deposits of Equi in Spain (large-sized transparent samples), the Hohen Tauern Mounts in Austria (samples of orange colour measuring 15 cm or more), the Nanisivik mine in Canada (pink rhombohedra of 10 cm, whose centers are of gem quality). There also exists of very many deposits in the USA, China, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
In France, one will quote some deposits: Saint-Pierre de Mésage (Isère); the mine of Fontsante (Var); Champagnac the River (Haute-Vienna); the district of Sainte-Marie aux Mines (Haut-Rhin).
The place of conservation of the type of this species is not known.
HISTORY : Species dedicated to Déodat de Gratet de Dolomieu (1750-1801), French mineralogist, geologist and engineer
Species first described in 1792 by Horace Benedict de Saussure (1740-1799), naturalist and geologist from Geneva
Type-locality : Sud-Tyrol, Italy
CHEMICAL FORMULA : Ca Mg (CO3)2
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Rhomboedric
COLOR : Colorless, white, yellow, brown, pale pink
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous to pearly
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGIE : Combined and prismatic crystals, massive
HARDNESS : 3,5-4,0
CHEMICAL CLASS: 2,86
DENSITY : V - Carbonates, nitrates and borates
GROUP : Dolomite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 5/B.03-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 5.AB.10
