44 Environmental Geoscience (Posters)

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
RCC, Lower Level Hall

Initial investigations of some dolomite powder products: First steps towards assessing mineralogical and geochemical diversity.

Paper number: 44-5
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

Dolomite is a common carbonate mineral that is being increasingly used in several different applications and hundreds of uses are being explored. Dolomite occurs primarily in two modes, as a sedimentary rock formed from authigenic processes which have been widely explored, and in metamorphic marbles. Dolomite from both origins have the potential to have natural impurities including oxides, sulfides, and silicates. Dolomite from marbles may contain tremolite asbestos. Detailed studies on dolomite products are uncommon in the peer review literature. Refined knowledge of mineralogy and geochemistry of dolomite powder products can provide insight into future uses, health risks, potential product finger printing, and product limitations. Here we present initial investigations of selected human nutrient supplement and agricultural dolomite products including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and limited scanning transmission electron microscopy - energy dispersive spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) data. Replicate basic initial X-ray diffraction on one dolomite nutritional supplement brand indicates that talc, amphiboles, and serpentines are present at minor concentrations, raising issues of potential countable particles using 2021 FDA guidance for asbestos in talc cosmetics. Quartz and albite are present in replicate samples as well. This particular product must be geogenic dolomite and is consistent with being derived from a dolomite marble. STEM-EDS of agricultural dolomite products shows the occurrence of nanoscale particles of dolomite and Fe-oxides, while alone not potentially hazardous, the size fraction of this product can be inhaled and deposited deep in the human lung raising questions regarding general exposure. Initial findings show that impurities in dolomite products are common and it may be possible to identify dolomite sources generally, and potentially specifically, given mineralogical and geochemical constraints. This initial investigation raises several questions regarding potentially hazardous materials, especially asbestos minerals in dolomite product streams. Given the specificity of dolomite products, certain users or workers may be exposed regularly, and results open broader questions for mineral related disease investigations.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411621

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