The System CaCO₃-MgCO₃

Abstract

Among the constituents of ancient carbonate rocks, dolomite, CaMg(CO₃)₂ is second in importance after calcite. Although both minerals may be found associated in dolomitic limestones, most dolomite occurs in essentially monomineralic bodies. These range in dimension from patches or layers of the order of centimeters to formations of considerable thickness. In most cases, the small-scale bodies occur embedded in limestone as a host rock (see e.g. Lippmann and Schlenker, 1970), sometimes also in argillaceous rocks, e.g. in the European Keuper. Moreover, dolomite may be present as a minor constituent in almost any sedimentary rock.