| Mineral | DOLOMITE |
| Chemistry | CaMg(CO 3 ) 2 |
| Class | Carbonates |
| Uses | in some cements, as a source of magnesium and as mineral specimens. |
| Color | white greyred dish-white brownish-white or pink . |
| Luster | VitreousPearly |
| Transparency | crystals are transparent to translucent. |
| CrystalSystem | Trigonal |
| CrystalHabits | include saddle shaped rhombohedral twins and simple rhombs some with slightly curved faces, also prismatic, massive, granular and rock forming.Never found in scalenohedrons. |
| Cleavage | Perfect Perfect on {10-11} |
| Fracture | perfect in three directions forming rhombohedrons. |
| Hardness | 3½ - 4 |
| SpecificGravity | 2.85 g/ccm |
| Streak | White |
| AssociatedMinerals | An important sedimentary and metamorphic mineralfound as the principal mineral in dolostones and metadolostonesand as an important mineral in limestones and marbles where calcite is the principal mineral present. Also found as a hydrothermal vein mineralforming crystals in cavities; and found in serpentinites and similar rocks. |
| Characteristics | Unlike calcite, effervesces weakly with warm acid or when first powdered with cold HCl. |
| Occurences | include many localities throughout the world, but well known from sites in Midwestern quarries of the USA; Ontario, Canada; Switzerland; Pamplona, Spain and in Mexico. |
| Indicators | typical pink color, crystal habit, hardness, slow reaction to acid, density and luster. |
| DensityNote | average |
| IMAStatus | Approved |
| CellParameters | a = 4.8069c = 16.0034 |
| Ratio | a:c = 1 : 3.329 |
| OpticalType | Uniaxial (-) |
| RI | n ω =1.679 - 1.681 n ε =1.500 |
| Birefringence | δ=0.179 - 0.181 |
| SurfaceRelief | Moderate |
| Strunz | 5/B.03-10 5 : NitratesCarbonates & Borates B : Waterfree carbonates without unfamiliar anions 03 : Dolomite group |
| FolkLore | Said to help relieve sorrow by bringing realization that "everything happens for a reason". Also said to aid is producing the stamina needed in dealing with hyperactive individuals. Encourages impulsive original thinking. It can be used to reduce energy leaks from the chakra areas. |
