Mineral Name: Calcium magnesium carbonate/ Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2)
Chemical properties:
| Moh’s hardness | Occurs in | Cleavage | Color | S.G. | Class | Chemical Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 .5- 4 | Formed by particle deposition or chemical sandstone precipitation. Main mineral in the rock dolomite (also called dolostone) | None or Indistinct | Buff, gray, white, pinkish; | = 2.8 to 2.9; | Carbonates | Found in dolomitic limestone or dolostone (>50% dolomite); Dolomite reacts vigorously with dilute HCI only when powdered. |
Dolomite is the main mineral in the widespread sedimentary rocks limestone and dolostone, and their metamorphosed equivalent is marble.
Dolomite is very much related to the mineral calcite. Calcite is composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), whereas Dolomite is a calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO3)2)
Distinguishing between Calcite and Dolomite:
The easiest method to distinguish calcite from dolomite is to place a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid (HC1) on it to observe if they bubble; calcite bubbles strongly and dolomite does not bubble so much or not bubble at all unless powdered.
Dolomite powder production:
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral which undergoes for deep processing and then differentiated according to their fineness. These differentiated dolomite powder is sent to various industrial fields as raw material. The major dolomite production equipment is mechanical grinder, crusher, sand making machine and milling machine, flour mill, the production of dolomite powder grain size ranges from 80–2500 mesh.
Dolomite uses:
Dolomite is used for many things, such as waste treatment, animal feed, fertilizer, cement, and the manufacture of glass, paper, glazes, enamels, and industrial chemicals.
Regular application of dolomite improves crop yields due to it’s neutralization potential. It finds use as a filler in fertilizers, paints & varnishes and for containment of dust in coal mines. It is also used as a building stone and in the making of floor tiles as chips and powder.
It is also used pharmaceutical, rubber, leather, glass, potteries.
Dolomite after calcination is used for refractory purposes.
Dolomite is used as a flux in iron & steel, ferroalloys.
Different grades of Dolomite available at Intercity Enterprises:
- Dolomite 300 Mesh