protodolomite
Quick Summary
Protodolomite refers to dolomites that have less than ideal structures and formed during the Holocene epoch (approximately the last 11,700 years). Dolomite itself is a mineral composed of calcium and magnesium carbonate, with the chemical formula CaMg(CO3)2. It is a type of limestone and, along with calcite and aragonite, makes up about 2% of Earth's crust.12
Dolomite is often formed through a process called dolomitization, where limestone is altered by magnesium-rich water. In this process, the mineral dolomite replaces calcite (calcium carbonate) within the rock. This alteration can change the rock's texture and may obscure original fossils or grains. While many ancient dolostones are well-ordered, protodolomites indicate less ordered structures, and the exact formation process for dolomite in marine environments is still a subject of geological research.21
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