DOLOMITE
DOLOMITE Dolomite – Ca,Mg(CO3)2 – is a very common carbonate, an important rock former and with a number of industrial applications, although much less so than calcite. The number of uses for a given limestone rock is inversely proportional to its magnesium content. Dolomite is the most common carbonate after calcite. Unlike calcite, it never […]
DOMEYKITE
DOMEYKITE Domeykite or Domeykite-α – Cu3As – is a rare arsenide. It participates in complex Cu and Ag ores with As. It is dimorphic with β-domeykite, which is a Cu-deficient domeykite, macroscopically visually indistinguishable from domeykite and which transitions to α-domeykite at approximately 225ºC. Domeykite is isotypic with dienerite and may contain Sb and S. […]
DATOLITE
DATOLITE Datolite – CaB(SiO4)(OH) – is a rarer nesosilicate, of no economic importance other than a collector mineral, where it reaches high prices. It is classified in the Gadolinite Supergroup (Y2Fe2+Be2Si2O10). May contain Mn, Mg, Fe and Al contents. As varieties, “bakerite” (rich in B) and “botryolite” (with botryoidal habit) occur. Macroscopically, datolite is very […]
DYSCRASITE
DYSCRASITE Dyscrasite – Ag3Sb – is a rare alloy that occurs in some Ag ores. It constitutes silver ore, but is generally not the main ore mineral in the deposit. Ores with dyscrasite contain native arsenic, several other As minerals, and may contain radioactive minerals. In addition, dyscrasite may contain Hg. Therefore, it is an […]
DUFTITE
DUFTITE Duftite – PbCu(AsO4)(OH) – is a rare arsenate, one of the many secondary minerals that make up oxidized ores from polymetallic deposits, in this case of Cu and Pb.It belongs to the Adelite-Desclozite Group and has calcium-duftite and β-duftite as varieties. 1. Characteristics Crystal system: Orthorhombic bisphenoidal. Color: Olive green, grey-green. Habit: Generally massive, […]
DIOPSIDE
DIOPSIDE Diopside – CaMgSi2O6 – is an inosilicate of the Pyroxene Supergroup. It is a rarer mineral, typical of some types of alkaline igneous rocks and marbles. It has no economic importance. Integrates the solid solution series between diopside, augite and hedenbergite. The color variation that it presents macroscopically is due to variable levels of […]
DIAMOND
DIAMOND Diamond – C – is a native element of relative rarity, very important as a gemstone and as an industrial mineral. The high price obtained for the diamond in the jewelry store is actually an illusion of value, as the price is manipulated globally by a conglomerate of companies. The covalent bonds between the […]