Dolomite is so similar to marble that it has been used in its place for centuries. Flying under the radar of marble’s reputation is a history that goes back hundreds of millions of years, and a set of properties that make it a natural choice for many applications. In this part of our History of Natural Stone series, we follow it from an 18th-century geologist to the modern Australian home.
What Dolomite Is
Dolomite is a stone made mostly of the mineral dolomite, a carbonate of calcium and magnesium. Marble and limestone are mostly calcite, a calcium carbonate. That added magnesium is the key difference. It makes dolomite a little harder than marble and much slower to react with acids, which is why it etches less easily on a benchtop.
Most dolomite began as limestone on ancient sea floors. Over time, magnesium-rich water seeped through it and slowly swapped some of the calcium for magnesium. Many of the slabs sold as dolomite today have also been reshaped by heat and pressure, the same way marble is. That gives them marble’s sweeping veins with dolomite’s harder-wearing surface.
Exactly how this happens is still not fully understood. For around 200 years, scientists could not grow dolomite in a laboratory at normal temperatures, a puzzle known as the dolomite problem. In 2023, researchers at the University of Michigan and Hokkaido University finally managed it.
Dolomite is usually white, grey or cream, with traces of other minerals such as iron adding pink, red and warmer tones. It is also a practical industrial material, used in agriculture, glass manufacturing and chemical production, including magnesium supplements and Epsom salt.
Déodat de Dolomieu and the Alps
In the 18th century, French geologist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu was the first scientist to formally identify and collect dolomite samples in the Alps. He distinguished this as a stone separate from limestone by noticing that it did not fizz or effervesce when exposed to acid.
This insight began our knowledge of dolomite, also known as dolomite rock, dolostone or dolomitic rock.
Brief Notes on the Dolomites’ History and Folklore
In 1864, the Dolomite mountain range in northeastern Italy was officially named after its geological foundation. The Dolomites share a rich history blending Austrian, Italian and Ladin traditions, the latter being one of the oldest continuing ethnic groups of the Alps, whose language and cultural traditions still thrive in remote valleys like Val Gardena and Val Badia.
The range’s history spans from Roman rule through to the battlefields of World War I, where the jagged peaks became the frontline of high-altitude battle between the Italians and Austro-Hungarian forces. Entire supply networks, barracks and tunnels were carved directly into the rock.
On a mythic level, these peaks are holders of ancient fairy tales.
A particular lore beloved to the area involves the Prince of the Dolomites, who married the Princess of the Moon. To cure her homesickness, her people descended from the sky and spun moonlight into silver threads, draping the dark rock in shining white stone.
Dolomite in the Contemporary Home
Think of dolomite as marble’s harder, more grounded sibling. It offers the same visual richness, with sweeping veins, deep palettes and quiet luxury; just with greater hardness, lower reactivity, and higher etch resistance. For those who love the look of marble but want a surface better suited to everyday life, dolomite is a compelling answer.
Like marble, dolomite will develop a patina with use over time, but more slowly, and with more forgiveness. When properly sealed, it is well suited to a wide range of indoor and undercover applications, from kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanities to feature walls and flooring.