For 200 years, scientists have failed to grow a common mineral in the laboratory under the conditions believed to have formed it naturally.
- Now, a team of researchers have finally succeeded, thanks to a new theory developed from atomic simulations.
- Their success resolves a long-standing geology mystery called the “Dolomite Problem.”
- Dolomite is a calcium-magnesium-carbonate mineral. Dolomite is a key mineral in the Dolomite mountains in Italy, Niagara Falls, the White Cliffs of Dover and Utah’s Hoodoos.
- It is very abundant in rocks older than 100 million years, but nearly absent in younger formations.
- Dolomite was first described as a mineral in 1792 by Swiss naturalist Nicolas de Saussure after analyzing some rock samples collected by French adventurer Deodat Sylvain Guy de Tancrède Greatet de Dolomieu in the mountains of Italy and Austria.
- As per Govt of India Notification S.O. 423(E), dated 10th February 2015, ‘dolomite’ has been declared as ‘Minor Mineral’, hence the producers report the production data directly to the respective states and not to IBM. Dolomite occurrences are widespread in the country.
