CARBONATES

Chemical compounds related to carbon dioxide. In nature, carbon atoms join with oxygen to form the carbonate ion, CO3. When carbonates are mixed with metal cations to create carbonate minerals. The environments that create these minerals are usually oxidizing or sedimentary. The three groups that make up carbonates are the aragonite, dolomite, and calcite groups which are all extremely varied and omnipresent. The only carbonates that are considered of primary importance are copper, malachite and azurite. Carbonates share these features:

• They are remediable in acidic solutions
• Have feeble with great cleavage
• Softly-colored with white characteristics
• Varied gravity