What is Carbonatite?
[[File:Carbonatite.jpg|thumb|230px|Carbonatite]] [[File:Lava lengai.jpg|thumb|Carbonatite lava at [[Ol Doinyo Lengai]] volcano, [[Tanzania]]]] '''Carbonatite''' ({{IPAc-en|pron|k|ɑr|ˈ|b|ɒ|n|ə|t|aɪ|t}}) is a type of [[igneous]] [[Rock (geology)|rock]]. It has greater than 50% [[carbonate]] [[mineral]]s.<ref>Bell, Keith (editor) 1989. ''Carbonatites: genesis and evolution''. London, Unwin Hyman.</ref> Carbonatites may be confused with [[marble]], so may need geochemical analysis to make sure. Carbonatites usually occur as small [[Volcanic plug|plugs]], or as [[Dike (geology)|dikes]], [[Sill (geology)|sills]], [[breccia]]s, and [[vein (geology)|veins]]. They are almost all near or in continental [[Rift (geology)|rift]]-related [[tectonic]] settings. It seems that there has been a steady increase in the carbonatitic [[igneous]] activity through the Earth's history, from the [[Archean]] [[eon]] to the present. Carbonates in general are typical products of life-forms. == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Minerals]] [[Category:Carbonates]] [[Category:Igneous rocks]]