5/24/22, 9:36 PM QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF CALCITE AND DOLOMITE IN PURE CARBONATES AND LIMESTONES - PETERS…

Journal of Soil Science / Volume 17, Issue 2 / p. 317-327

QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF CALCITE AND DOLOMITE IN PURE

CARBONATES AND LIMESTONES

G. W. PETERSEN, G. CHESTERS

First published: September 1966

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.1966.tb01476.x
Citations: 13

Summary
Calcite and dolomite were differentiated quantitatively from calcite-dolomite mixtures 
and limestones by a method based on the quantitative dissolution of calcite in pH 5.85N
citrate buffer. The acidity and chelating ability of citrate favoured greatly the dissolution
of calcite to that of dolomite. The method consisted of determination of citrate-soluble
Ca and Mg which, in conjunction with a Ca and Mg analysis of the residue, or a
determination of total CO3 in the system, allowed calculation of the calcite and dolomite
contents of the sample.

Analyses of artificially prepared mixtures and limestone samples gave essentially the
same calcite and dolomite contents when determined by the residue and total CO3
methods. The residue method is to be preferred because error can be reduced by
determination of the actual Ca:Mg ratio of the dolomite. However, the total CO3 method
would be superior for heterogeneous systems, such as soils, since dissolution of
dolomite in the residue by strong acid treatment may introduce errors from the
dissolution of non-carbonate Ca and Mg minerals.

Citing Literature 

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