<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolomite_(mineral)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dolomite</a> is a form of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcite" rel="nofollow noreferrer">calcite</a> in which <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium" rel="nofollow noreferrer">magnesium</a> replaces some percentage of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium" rel="nofollow noreferrer">calcium</a> in what is otherwise a calcium carbonate rock. Magnesium has the same charge, and thus bonding behaviours, as calcium but is physically a larger atom. At a low replacement percentage this size difference doesn't distort the calcite crystal lattice to a noticeable degree. In dolomites with a higher percentage of magnesium the crystal lattice distorts notably making the dolomite less physically stable than pure calcite, at really high, or &quot;excessive&quot;, percentages of replacement the calcite lattice structure expands out into a predominantly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesite" rel="nofollow noreferrer">magnesite</a> lattice structure which is geometrically similar but with wider spacing at the atomic level.</p>

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2024-06-09T08:18:13.553Z
2024-06-09T08:18:13.553Z
Ash
<p>In the context of crystal growth, particularly saddle or baroque dolomite development, what does &quot;preferential lattice expansion due to excessive magnesium adsorption&quot; mean in practical terms?</p>

<geophysics><geochemistry><mineralogy><crystallography><carbonate>
Simple explanation of what "preferential lattice expansion due to excessive magnesium adsorption", means
Josiah
# Simple explanation of what "preferential lattice expansion due to excessive magnesium adsorption", means

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-06-09)

In the context of crystal growth, particularly saddle or baroque dolomite development, what does "preferential lattice expansion due to excessive magnesium adsorption" mean in practical terms?

**Tags:** geophysics, geochemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, carbonate


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-06-09. Score: 3

[Dolomite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolomite_(mineral)) is a form of [calcite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcite) in which [magnesium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium) replaces some percentage of the [calcium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium) in what is otherwise a calcium carbonate rock. Magnesium has the same charge, and thus bonding behaviours, as calcium but is physically a larger atom. At a low replacement percentage this size difference doesn't distort the calcite crystal lattice to a noticeable degree. In dolomites with a higher percentage of magnesium the crystal lattice distorts notably making the dolomite less physically stable than pure calcite, at really high, or "excessive", percentages of replacement the calcite lattice structure expands out into a predominantly [magnesite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesite) lattice structure which is geometrically similar but with wider spacing at the atomic level.


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