Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Quick answer
Dolomite etches more slowly than marble but it does etch, especially from strong acids like lemon juice and vinegar, and it can stain. Clear protection film blocks both, so a dolomite benchtop can be used and cleaned without the careful habits marble needs.
Key points
- Calcium magnesium carbonate: slower to react than marble.
- Harder and more scratch-resistant than marble.
- Often sold as marble or as quartzite.
- Film makes it genuinely low maintenance.
Marble's tougher cousin
Dolomite forms when magnesium replaces some of the calcium in limestone. The result is a stone that looks much like marble, with white, grey and blue-grey grounds and crystalline veining, but is harder and reacts with acid more slowly. Stones such as Super White and many "soft quartzites" are dolomites.
Slower etching is a genuine advantage: wipe up a lemon squeeze straight away and you may see nothing. Leave it, or use an acidic spray daily, and the surface will dull.
Where dolomite still needs help
The areas that suffer are predictable: around the sink, where cleaners and water sit; near the cooktop, where oil and sauces splash; and where drinks are poured and served. Film protects those zones along with the rest of the surface, and removes the need to choose special cleaners.