Dolomite is a common rock-forming mineral, and is the primary component of the sedimentary rock known as dolostone and the metamorphic rock known as dolomitic marble. Dolomite is used as a source of magnesium oxide, a concrete aggregate, and an ornamental stone, as well as in the Pidgeon process for the production of magnesium. Moreover, it is often used to make refractory bricks as it contains magnesium metal and magnesia. It is also used for limestone in cement and bitumen mixes, as well as a flux in blast furnaces.
Dolomite, a type of limestone, is also used in
agriculture. It provides valuable nutrients to plants and helps change the pH
of the soil by raising it to match the plants' needs. In the agriculture,
dolomite powder is used to adjust magnesium deficiency and to reduce soil
acidity. Some plants such as tomatoes, need extra calcium as they grow, and
dolomite is an excellent way to provide that nutrient. The powder is used as
filler in various products like rubbers, paints, detergent, putty, animal feed,
sealants, and adhesives, among others. Another limitation in the dolomite
market is that it must be activated during the fertilizer
making process.
Dolomite is also used as a filler material in the
construction industry due to its higher surface hardness and density. Asphalt
and concrete applications prefer dolomite due to its high strength and
hardness. It is one of the minerals used on a large scale in binary or tertiary
cement blends. Dolomite has a wide range of applications in various industries
but the primary application is found in the construction and steel & iron
industry. It is also used for filtration and processing drinking water: to
increase the pH value of the purified water after RO system.
Thus, there is an increasing demand for dolomite
worldwide. Dolomite is found worldwide in the form of bedrocks, but the primary
deposits are found in the Midwestern U.S., Switzerland, Canada, Ontario, Spain,
Pamplona, and Mexico.