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Addressing the long-standing “dolomite problem,” researchers have found that dolomite crystals require cycling of saturation conditions to grow.
The findings provide new insights into how dolomite is formed.
Also found how modern dolomite is primarily found in natural environments with pH or salinity fluctuations.
As per the simulation’s predictions, frequent cycling of a solution between supersaturation and undersaturation can speed up dolomite growth by up to 10 million times.
What is Dolomite
Dolomite is a calcium magnesium carbonate mineral with the chemical formula CaMg(CO3)2.
It is a common sedimentary rock-forming mineral and the primary component of the sedimentary rock known as dolostone.
Dolomite is also found in metamorphic rocks, such as dolomitic marble.
Dolomite is typically colorless or white, but it can also be pink, gray, or brown.
It has a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale and a specific gravity of 2.8 to 2.9.
Dolomite is slightly soluble in water, and it will effervesce in cold dilute hydrochloric acid.
Dolomite is formed by the precipitation of calcium and magnesium carbonates from seawater.
It can also be formed by the alteration of limestone or by the metamorphism of limestone or dolostone.
Dolomite is a valuable mineral with a wide range of uses.
It is an important component of the Earth's crust and plays a role in many geological processes.
Dolomite is also an important resource for humans, and it is used in a variety of applications.
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