AllMineralsRock
Dolomite Vs. Quartz
Dolomite is a popular mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate.[1] Quartz is a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is silicon dioxide.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Dolomite and Quartz
For a quick recap of the differences dolomite and quartz:- For chemical formulas, dolomite is CaMg(CO3)2 while quartz is SiO2.
- While both dolomite and quartz can be vitreous, in terms of luster, dolomite can be pearly and quartz can be greasy or waxy.
- While both dolomite and quartz can be commonly yellow, dolomite is often brown, pink or tan and quartz can be commonly red.
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Dolomite's hardness is lower than quartz - dolomite ranges from 3.5 to 4 and quartz is 7 on the Moh's scale.
- Dolomite can be scratched by the average knife blade (4.5), glass (5.5) or quartz (7) while quartz can not be.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Dolomite and Quartz
The similarities of dolomite and quartz include:- Dolomite and quartz both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
- In terms of crystallography, dolomite and quartz both can be hexagonal or trigonal.
- Dolomite and quartz both streak white.
- Dolomite's rarity is similar to quartz.
- Dolomite's specific gravity overlaps with quartz - dolomite ranges from 2.85 to 2.93 and quartz ranges from 2.651 to 2.91.
Summary of Dolomite
Dolomite is a mineral that is composed of calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO3)2). It is commonly found in sedimentary rocks and can be identified by its white, pink, or gray color and its rhombohedral crystal structure. Dolomite is often found alongside other minerals such as calcite, quartz, and feldspar.Summary of Quartz
Quartz is a mineral that is composed of silicon and oxygen atoms arranged in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra. It is one of the most abundant minerals found in the Earth's crust. Quartz can be found in a variety of colors such as white, pink, purple, brown, gray, and black. It is also known for its unique crystal structure, which is hexagonal in shape, and its hardness, which is 7 on the Mohs scale.Table Comparison of Dolomite vs Quartz
| Dolomite (src) | Quartz (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | CaMg(CO3)2 | SiO2 |
| Chemical Composition | calcium magnesium carbonate | silicon dioxide |
| Specific Gravity | 2.85, 2.93, 2.93, 3.1 | 2.651, 2.91 |
| Hardness | 3.5, 4 | 7 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Crystallography | hexagonal, trigonal | hexagonal, trigonal |
| Refractive Index | 1.5, 1.75 | 1.544, 1.553 |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: tan, pink, brown, yellow sometimes: red, blue, gray, pale, black, green, peach, white, orange, colorless |
common: red, yellow sometimes: blue, gray, pink, black, brown, green, white, orange, purple, violet, colorless, multicolor |
| Fracture | conchoidal, subconchoidal | conchoidal, uneven |