Scientists from the University of Michigan and Hokkaido University have successfully grown dolomite in the laboratory for the first time, ending a 200-year effort to replicate its natural formation.
How dolomite’s atomic structure blocked lab growth for centuries
Dolomite’s crystal lattice alternates layers of calcium and magnesium, but in solution, these ions often attach randomly, creating defects that halt further growth. At this rate, forming a single ordered layer would take up to 10 million years, making lab synthesis seem impossible under static conditions.
Why natural cycles of dissolution allow dolomite to form over time
The researchers identified that misplaced atoms are less stable and dissolve when exposed to water, meaning natural fluctuations like rain or tides regularly erase flawed surfaces. This periodic cleansing allows correctly aligned layers to accumulate, enabling dolomite to build over geological timescales despite unhurried instantaneous growth.
How atomic simulations enabled the breakthrough in crystal growth theory
To test their hypothesis, the team used software developed at U-M’s PRISMS Center that reduces computational demand by calculating energies for key atomic arrangements and predicting others via crystal symmetry. This allowed them to simulate dolomite formation at the atomic level and confirm that dissolving defects enables net growth.
What solving the dolomite problem means for materials science
Understanding dolomite’s growth mechanism could inform strategies for synthesizing advanced technological materials where controlled crystal formation is critical. As Wenhao Sun noted, insights from this geological puzzle may help promote orderly crystal growth in lab-grown compounds used in electronics, optics, or catalysis.
Why has dolomite been so challenging to grow in the lab?
Its alternating calcium-magnesium structure leads to frequent atomic mismatches during growth, creating defects that block further layers unless dissolved by water exposure.
How long would dolomite take to form without natural dissolution cycles?
A single well-ordered layer could take up to 10 million years to form under stable lab conditions due to persistent growth-blocking defects.
