Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Eugui, Navarre, Spain
SIZE : 8 x 8 x 5.3 cm; crystal: 6.3 x 3.2 cm

These are crystals of dolomite. This specimen has transparent and colourless rhombohedric crystals overlaped (twinned crystals). The facets are striated and show some iridescence.

This sample comes from Eugui in Spain and mesures 8 x 8 x 5.3 cm, the biggest crystal is 6.3 x 3.2 cm. The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle acquired it thanks to the donation of Mr Vimmer in 1978.

It is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Dolomite

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
MORPHOLOGY : Combined and prismatic crystals, massive
HARDNESS : 3,5-4,0
DENSITY : 2,86

CHEMICAL CLASS : V - Carbonates, nitrates
GROUP : Dolomite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 5/B.03-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 5.AB.10

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MNHN N°178.110

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