Dolostone
Dolostone is a
sedimentary carbonate rock that contains a high percentage of the
mineral dolomite. It is usually referred to as dolomite
rock. In old
U.S.G.S. publications it was referred to as magnesian
limestone. Most dolostone formed as a
magnesium replacement of limestone or
lime mud prior to lithification. It is resistant to
erosion and can either contain bedded layers or be unbedded. It is less soluble than limestone in weakly
acidic groundwater, but it can still develop solution features over time.
The term
dolostone was introduced to avoid confusion with the mineral
dolomite. The usage of the term
dolostone is controversial because the word dolomite was first applied to the rock during the late eighteenth century and thus has technical precedence. The use of the term dolostone is not recommended by the
Glossary of Geology published by the
American Geological Institute (AGI). It is, however, used in some geological publications.
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