Calcite and Dolomite University of Pittsburgh
Calcite and dolomite are very similar minerals. Both have the same hardness (H = 3), the same rhombohedral cleavage, and are found in identical geologic settings. The best way to tell one from the other is the acid test: a drop of 1 M HCl on calcite produces an instant, obvious fizz; a drop on dolomite produces slow or no obvious bubbling.