Dolomite, Limberg bei Sasbach, Kaiserstuhl, Baden (Germany) 

Dolomite is a  rare species at Limberg. The "Bitterspat"  mentioned by  Walchner (1823) and Eisenlohr (1829) may be Dolomite or Magnesite or both. Dolomite was again mentioned by Knop (1892)  but not  from Lorent (1933). Lorent gives a description of Magnesite as large, dense, white concretions  of considerable size. This was not found in the last decades, but  Dolomite has been found recently  (2005) in a Limburgite-boulder with many cavities lined with Phillipsite. A few of the cavities show also Dolomite as rosette like aggregates of small tabular crystals on the phillipsite. Some Dolomite is also present on a boulder with larger Faujasites-crystals from Quarry II.   Dolomite can be distinguished from Calcite by its much slower (almost not) dissolution in diluted Acetic Acid (5%) or Vinegar. Magnesite is not affected at all under this condition. The test is best done under the microscope with a calcite grain as reference.  The identification was confirmed by X-ray diffractometry  (Erich Keck, pers. comm.)

Limberg

Faujasite

Phillipsite

Chabazite

Offretite

Hyalite

Dolomite

Calcite

Aragonite

Montmorillonite

Paragenesis

Literature
Dolomit_druse
Home Vug in Limburgite from Quarry VI., with spheres of Phillipsite and small rosettes of Dolomite.
Field of view about 20 mm.

Dolomit_1 Dolomit_3
Rosettes of  Magnesite with a broken sphere of Phillipsite from quarry VI.  Field of of view about 15 mm Zonar Phillipsite - spheres (left)  and Dolomite  from quarry VI.
Field o of view about 8 mm

The Limberg at Mindat.org The Limberg as a Geotope  with a map The Limberg for tourists
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© Volker Betz (2010)  All rights reserved.