Can Dolomite Scratch Glass? (ANSWERED)

No, dolomite cannot scratch glass.

In the article that follows, you’ll learn more about both materials, and why it is that one can or cannot scratch the other.

Can Dolomite Scratch Glass? (Let’s Learn More)

Compared to glass, dolomite is considerably soft.

Most hardness is rated on what is known as the Mohs scale.

Diamond ranks score 10 as the hardest rock or mineral known in nature.

Dolomite, under the same hardness criteria, scored between a 3 or 4 on the Mohs scale.

Glass is much harder, sitting well above 5 to 6.

As a result, while dolomite rock cannot scratch glass per se, glass could easily do damage to a dolomite surface.

Understanding the Nature of Dolomite

As a rock and functional surface crafted by skilled masons, dolomite has long been used for furniture, flooring, walls and similar in structures dating back to ancient times.

The stone today opts as a substitute for marble, providing a similar rock look when polished but not near as hard and far easier to work with in crafting.

That also makes dolomite far more affordable when folks are choosing between this option for countertops or something else, for example.

In terms of nature, dolomite is formed and created as a type of sedimentary rock.

It is the end product of ground water heavy in magnesium being mixed with limestone and similar mud, and then becoming squeezed together over time with significant pressure.

If one were to compare limestone and dolomite side by side, they would look very similar.

Because of dolomite’s ease with which it can be cut and worked, it’s an ideal rock type to fabricate and cut from its natural form, often done in slabs so they can then be fashioned into end shapes.

The rock is plentiful in some regions and has been quarried for centuries by civilizations and peoples in the areas where deposits are plentiful.

In fact, some areas have such a great abundance of the grayish stone they make up mountain ranges, such as the Dolomites in the Northern Alps of Italy.

In its natural form but polished, dolomite will oftentimes appear as a gray or white stone with streaks in it.

This feature makes it easy to confuse with marble, which looks similar but is a different type of stone.

The actual hardness of dolomite is sufficient to be used as a surface that weathers well against sun and water, but it is not an impact-proof surface.

Dolomite is harder than marble but far softer than other choices and definitely not on the same scale of granite.

As a result, people are often surprised by dolomite surfaces and how easy they are to damage by accident or dropping something harder on them.

When used as a food preparation surface, almost every mason and cook will automatically recommend using a cutting board and never work directly on a dolomite surface itself.

Durability and Damage Resistance

Again, dolomite is generally a soft stone, so harder materials like metal can be a threat to it.

In terms of general usage and water exposure or liquids, however, dolomite holds up.

As long as it is cleaned properly, dolomite has been well known to hold up for decades in regularly used households.

Simple usage and wear and tear don’t have much effect on the stone in terms of surface friction.

When sealed, dolomite won’t easily absorb staining liquids, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be marked.

Raw dolomite can eventually be penetrated by stains, such as wine or coffee.

And even weak acids from food such as citric fruits can cause damage with long-term exposure.

A simple routine of wiping and cleaning avoids these problems easily.

From a temperature perspective, dolomite rock holds up very well.

It does better than quartz at fending off the effects of hot surfaces, not marking, spalling or burning as would be the case with other stone types.

Dolomite is also not affected by sunlight, something that does tend to change the coloring of other stone like quartz over time.

Industrial Uses

Simply being cut as slabs for surfaces is not the only use of dolomite.

The rock is ground up to extract magnesia, and it is regularly used for the fabrication of specialized brick material.

Dolomite can also be used as a process material or flux in high-heat blast furnace environments.

This last function has been increased due to environmental concerns about other flux materials being useless after burning.

Dolomite flux can be re-used as aggregate, with a very low weight feature, making it easy to work with, move and apply.

Even more beneficial, dolomite slag and aggregate don’t break down with exposure to water.

The same can’t be said for limestone, for example.

Softer Than Glass but Hard Enough for Home

So, to answer the question, can dolomite scratch glass, the response is definitely no.

Dolomite is extremely soft in comparison to the structure of glass ware and glass materials.

However, its that very softness feature that makes dolomite such a favored stone, especially for masonry crafting.

Furthermore, it’s a rock type that people have a long history with and have found a number of industrial uses for, being far more useful with multiple end solutions than other rock types tend to be.

So, while you may have to be careful having dolomite counters for your kitchen area and food preparation surface, it provides a beautiful look that resembles marble without the related bank account damage marble surfaces can cost a buyer.

Homeowners should just make sure to use a proper cutting board and watch out for those glass and ceramics being dragged across it from time to time.