Question: what is the difference between the carbonate minerals calcite and dolomite?
Answer: Dolomite is very similar to the mineral calcite. Calcite is composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), while dolomite is a calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO3)2). ... Calcite has a hardness of 3, while dolomite is slightly harder at 3 1/2 to 4.