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.) |
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Limberg Faujasite Phillipsite Chabazite Offretite Hyalite Dolomite Calcite Aragonite Montmorillonite Paragenesis Literature |
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Home | Vug in Limburgite from Quarry VI., with spheres of Phillipsite and small rosettes of Dolomite. Field of view about 20 mm. |
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 |