Dolomite
Crystals on Matrix
Rush
ARKANSAS
Diagnostic Features
Hardness: 3.5
Streak: None to white
Luster: Nonmetallic
Specific Gravity: 2.9
Cleavage: Present in 3 directions (rhombohedral)
Fracture: None
Other: Effervesces in hot hydrochloric acid
Frequently pink to white in color
Identification Tips
1. Dolomite resembles calcite in terms of its rhombohedral cleavage and color but it is noticeably harder.
2. Dolomite frequently appears as pink crystals with brassy yellow crystals of chalcopyrite sprinkled through them.
3. Unlike calcite, dolomite will not effervesce in room temperature hydrochloric acid.
4. Dolomite is translucent to opaque whereas calcite is frequently transparent and will exhibit double refraction.
5. Dolomite crystals are rarely more than 1 cm in length whereas calcite crystals can attain lengths of 10 cm and greater.
Intergrown Crystals
MONTANA
Crystals on Matrix
OKLAHOMA
Octahedral Crystals on Matrix
Pecos River
Lake Arthur
NEW MEXICO
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Crystals on Sphalerite and Pyrite]
Morococha
Junin Department
PERU
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Crystals on Matrix]
Elbrusskiy Mine
North Caucasus
RUSSIA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Crystals on Matrix]
Elbrusskiy Mine
North Caucasus
RUSSIA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Crystals Sprinkled with Chalcopyrite]
Belorechenskoe Mine
Caucasus
RUSSIA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Cubic Crystal on Chalcopyrite]
Cavnic Mine
Cavnic
Maramureș County
ROMANIA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Rhombohedral Crystals on Dolostone]
Cane Creek Quarry
Butler County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Rhombohedral Crystals on Dolostone]
Cane Creek Quarry
Butler County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Rhombohedral Crystals on Dolostone]
Cane Creek Quarry
Butler County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Rhombohedral Crystals on Dolostone]
Cane Creek Quarry
Butler County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Rhombohedral Crystals on Dolostone]
Cane Creek Quarry
Butler County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Rhombohedral Crystals on Dolostone]
Cane Creek Quarry
Butler County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Rhombohedral Crystals on Dolostone]
Cane Creek Quarry
Butler County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Rhombohedral Crystals on Dolostone]
Cane Creek Quarry
Butler County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Saddle-Shaped Rhombohedral Crystals Coated with Disseminated Octahedral Pyrite]
MEXICO
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Intergrown Translucent Crystals Sprinkled with Pyrrhotite]
Morro Velho Mine
Minas Gerais
BRAZIL
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Intergrown Translucent Crystals Sprinkled with Pyrrhotite]
Morro Velho Mine
Minas Gerais
BRAZIL
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Intergrown Translucent Crystals Sprinkled with Pyrrhotite]
Morro Velho Mine
Minas Gerais
BRAZIL
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Intergrown Grey Rhombohedral Crystals with Chalcopyrite]
Sweetwater Mine
Reynolds County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Intergrown Grey Rhombohedral Crystals with Chalcopyrite]
Sweetwater Mine
Reynolds County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Intergrown Grey Rhombohedral Crystals with Chalcopyrite]
Sweetwater Mine
Reynolds County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Intergrown Grey Rhombohedral Crystals with Chalcopyrite]
Sweetwater Mine
Reynolds County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[White Rhombohedral Crystals with Iridescent Chalcopyrite on Dolostone]
Sweetwater Mine
Reynolds County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[White Rhombohedral Crystals with Iridescent Chalcopyrite on Dolostone]
Sweetwater Mine
Reynolds County
MISSOURI
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Grey and White Rhombohedral Crystals on Chalcocite]
Flambeau Mine
Level 1050
Ladysmith
Rusk County
WISCONSIN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Grey and White Rhombohedral Crystals on Chalcocite]
Flambeau Mine
Level 1050
Ladysmith
Rusk County
WISCONSIN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Transparent Cubic and Rhombohedral Crystals with Rutile]
North American Emerald Mine
Hiddenite
Alexander County
NORTH CAROLINA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Transparent Cubic and Rhombohedral Crystals with Rutile]
North American Emerald Mine
Hiddenite
Alexander County
NORTH CAROLINA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Transparent Cubic and Rhombohedral Crystals with Rutile]
North American Emerald Mine
Hiddenite
Alexander County
NORTH CAROLINA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Transparent Cubic and Rhombohedral Crystals with Rutile]
North American Emerald Mine
Hiddenite
Alexander County
NORTH CAROLINA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Light Brown Rhombohedral Crystals with Nalachite]
Bou Beker
Touissit-Bou Beker
Jerada Province
L'Oriental Region
MOROCCO
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Light Brown Rhombohedral Crystals with Nalachite]
Bou Beker
Touissit-Bou Beker
Jerada Province
L'Oriental Region
MOROCCO
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Teruelite
[Brown Terminated Octahedral Crystal in Massive]
CV-35 highway cut
Domeño
Valencia
Valencian Community
SPAIN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Teruelite
[Brown Terminated Octahedral Crystal in Massive]
CV-35 highway cut
Domeño
Valencia
Valencian Community
SPAIN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Teruelite
[Brown Terminated Octahedral Crystal in Massive]
CV-35 highway cut
Domeño
Valencia
Valencian Community
SPAIN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Teruelite
[Brown Terminated Octahedral Crystal in Massive]
CV-35 highway cut
Domeño
Valencia
Valencian Community
SPAIN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Saddle-Shaped Rhombohedral Crystals with Terminated Translucent Quartz and Minor Chalcopyrite]
Vulcan Quarry
Black Rock
Lawrence County
ARKANSAS
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Saddle-Shaped Rhombohedral Crystals with Terminated Translucent Quartz and Minor Chalcopyrite]
Vulcan Quarry
Black Rock
Lawrence County
ARKANSAS
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Tan and Grey Crystals on Calcite]
Buckwheat Dump
Franklin
Sussex County
NEW JERSEY
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Tan and Grey Crystals on Calcite]
Buckwheat Dump
Franklin
Sussex County
NEW JERSEY
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Saddle-Shaped Rhombohedral Crystals with Chalcopyrite on Matric]
AR Highway 63
Vulcan Quarry
Black Rock
Lawrence County
ARKANSAS
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
