Dolomite (CaMg(CO)2) is certainly one of the most enigmatic sedimentary minerals on Earth. Its massive deposits of the past have very little contemporary analogues and today, scientists still do not have a consensus on how hundred meter-thick dolomite deposits of the Precambrian age (> 600 million year) were formed across the globe. Recently, the interest in dolomite has risen due to its importance as a major regulator not only of carbon cycle in the past, but also as an important host rock in ongoing projects of CO2 underground storage and sequestration. The growing demand for primary resources also impacted the interest in dolomite and dolomitic rocks, which are now widely used in numerous technological and industrial applications. For these reasons, there is a steady increase of scientific publications linked to dolomite problematics. A Web of Science search (all databases) with dolomite as the topic yielded more than 13,000 papers published from 1950-2015; 4,200 of them were published over the last five years and 8,800 were produced during preceding sixty years. The number of publications concerning use of dolomite in the field of engineering and physical science (non-earth sciences) increased five-fold from the mid-1990s to 2000s, and nowadays contributes to more than a half of all publications on dolomite. This clearly illustrates the rising interest in dolomite for technological applications over the past decade. This book incorporates a large number of disciplines, from geology to chemical engineering of catalysts. It illuminates three main aspects of dolomite as a major sedimentary rock and important technological material: (i) natural occurrence; (ii) laboratory study of dolomite dissolution and precipitation and (iii) applications in various technological aspects. The first two chapters address geological and mineralogical aspects of dolomite deposits in the natural environment (Wagner et al.; Marfil et al). The next three chapters cover the reactivity of dolomite in an aqueous solution (Pokrovsky and Schott), the synthesis of dolomite analogues from aqueous solution (Pina et al) and laboratory precipitation of Mg-bearing carbonates and protodolomite from homogeneous supersaturated solutions (Pokrovsky). Finally, the last two chapters (Ivanets et al., Ryabkov et al.) present the application of dolomite for numerous technological and engineering purposes.

This book is an up-to-date review of recent scientific progress and outstanding problems concerning both the basic scientific and economic aspects of the mineral dolomite. It marks the bicentenary of the discovery of this important mineral and rock by de Dolomieu in his classic paper of 1791. Rather than a thorough review, the material is presented in two parts. The first concerns important advances and gaps in our knowledge of dolomitization; the second treats certain specific problems discussed at the Dolomieu Conference on Carbonate Platforms and Dolomitization held in Ortisei in 1991. The book is particularly important in that it includes both syntheses of specific scientific aspects such as dolomite models, and also discussion of economic applications such as dolomite petroleum reservoirs.

This book covers the more basic aspects of carbonate minerals and their interaction with aqueous solutions; modern marine carbonate formation and sediments; carbonate diagenesis (early marine, meteoric and burial); the global cycle of carbon and human intervention; and the role of sedimentary carbonates as indicators of stability and changes in the Earth's surface environment. The selected subjects are presented with sufficient background information to enable the non-specialist to understand the basic chemistry involved. Tested on classes taught by the authors, and approved by the students, this comprehensive volume will prove itself to be a valuable reference source to students, researchers and professionals in the fields of oceanography, geochemistry, petrology, environmental science and petroleum geology.

Description based on: v. 3, published in 2003.

Throughout the book, attention is continually directed to the relations between theoretical formulas and results of controlled laboratory experiments, as well as to geologic field observations. The book begins with an introduction to chemical equilibrium, concentrating on the carbonate and silicate equilibria that are important in geologic environments. Next comes a brief look at the chemistry of crystalline solids and reactions at mineral surfaces.

The wide distribution of dolomite rocks in North American, Middle- and Far-Eastern hydrocarbon reservoirs is reason enough for their intensive study. In this volume dolomite enthusiasts review progress and define the current boundaries of dolomite research, related particularly to the importance of these rocks as reservoirs.