THE APPLICATION OF A CHEMICAL STAINING TECHNIQUE TO A STUDY OF DEDOLOMITISATION

A staining technique is described which detects variations in ferrous iron content within calcite and dolomite, whilst simultaneously differentiating the dolomite from the calcite. The application of this technique to a study of dedolomitisation is pre- sented.
Ferroan dolomite, in certain pyrite bearing limestones of the southern Jura, is shown to have been dedolomitised, that is replaced by calcite, while at the same time the pyrite content of the rock was oxidised to haematite. One of the oxidation products of the pyrite is considered to have caused the dedolomitisation.