The Dolomite Problem: A Matter of Time

Why is the mineral dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, abundant in ancient sedimentary rocks but scarce modern rock-forming environments? What are natural processes that lead to characteristic Mg–Ca order dolomite structure? These important geological questions have captivated interest of geoscientists for over a century, answers still remain elusive. Only recently, by development experimental work and generation large geochemical data sets, we began suspect both formation ordering could be result progressive dissolution–(re)crystallization reactions extended periods time. Here, present an initial estimate cation-ordering times derived from previously reported Phanerozoic dolomites. This provides new insight into process nature, it clearly suggests can possible precisely determine kinetics