Scientists from the University of Michigan have solved a 200-year-old mystery about the growth of dolomite, a mineral usually formed from limestone and magnesium. Previous lab experiments failed to replicate the mineral's growth due to its layers of calcium and magnesium arranging themselves differently. New research used transmission electron microscopy to eliminate these defects and increase production. Dolomite is usually found in rocks over 100 million years old, but newer growth is rare due to how it forms: crystals grow when atoms attach themselves to the surface of an existing crystal in a certain order. However, when magnesium and calcium are compressed together over time, the two minerals end up attaching to previous layers randomly, causing structural defects that impede growth. The researchers used software to model the flawed formation and then used this information to simulate the growth.