Calcite
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/14730981@N08">James Petts</a> from London, England (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mineral NameCalcite
Chemical FormulaCaCO3
Mohs Hardness3
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect rhombohedral in three directions
Fractureconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity2.71
Colorswhite, light brown, tan
Transparencytranslucent to opaque
Type LocalityCardiff
Mineral GroupCarbonates
Usesconstruction, industrial, agricultural, collector
Associated Mineralsquartz, fluorite, barite, galena, sphalerite
Raritycommon
Description
A specimen of calcite exhibiting a white to light brown color, with one surface displaying a rough, textured, possibly botryoidal or stalactitic growth pattern.
Geological Context
Calcite is a ubiquitous mineral, forming in various geological settings including sedimentary environments as limestone, metamorphic rocks as marble, and as a common vein mineral in hydrothermal deposits.
