The dissociation of dolomite

Extract

That dolomite (CaCO₃ . MgCO₃) on being heated behaves as though it were a mixture of the two carbonates by dissociating in two distinct stages, appears to be the widely accepted opinion. Thus it is staled (Mem. Geol. Survey, Special Reports on Min. Resources, London, 1920, vol. 16, ‘Refractory Minerals’, p. 102) ‘On calcination, dolomite undergoes a progressive dissociation which may be considered chemically as covering two distinct stages. The first effect of rising temperature is the expulsion of carbon dioxide from the magnesium carbonate contained in the dolomite and the formation of a mixture of magnesium oxide and calcium carbonate, accompanied by a considerable reduction in volume… . Complete calcination results in the expulsion of the remaining carbon dioxide, a still further reduction in volume, and the production of a dense crystalline aggregate of magnesium and calcium oxides.’