rs to both the calcium-magnesium carbonate mineral and to sedimentary rock formed predominantly of this mineral. The term dol

ostone was introduced in 1948 to avoid confusion between the two. However, the usage of the term dolostone is controversial, because the name dolomite was first appl

ied to the rock during the late 18th century and thus has technical precedence. The use of the term dolostone was not recommended by the Glossary of Geology published by the American Geological Institute. In old USGS publications, dolomite was referred to as magn

esian limestone, a term now reserved for magnesium-deficient dolomites or magnesium-rich limestones. Description Dolomite rock is defined as sedimentary carbonate rock composed of more than 50% mineral dolomite. Dolomite is characterized by its nearly ideal 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of magnesium to calcium. It is distinct from high-magnesium limestone in that the magnesium and calcium form ordered layers within the individual dolomite mineral grains, rather than being arranged at random, as they are in high-magnesium calcite grains. In natural dol