ABSTRACT

Trace element geochemistry for dolomitic limestones was carried out by chemical separation of the constituent calcite and dolomite. A five-minute treatment for fine-grained dolomitic limestone with 0.5 M acetic acid differentially dissolves the calcite, but 82–90% of dolomite remained undissolved. The fraction of dissolved dolomite contributed 2–17% to the calcite fraction, depending on the calcite/dolomite ratios of the samples. The residue of the acetic acid treatment was treated with 0.5 M HCl and an almost pure dolomite fraction was obtained. Comparison of the trace element concentrations in the calcite and dolomite fractions for four dolomitic limestones revealed that the REE abundances in both the fractions were similar, while the Fe, Mn, P, and Al concentrations in the dolomite fractions were higher than those in the calcite fractions. The method developed in this study can be used for trace element studies of dolomitic limestones.