Calcite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Trougnouf" title="User:Trougnouf">Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer)</a> (CC BY 4.0)
Mineral NameCalcite
Chemical FormulaCaCO3
Mohs Hardness3
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect rhombohedral
Fractureconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity2.71
Colorswhite, cream, brown, grey
Transparencytranslucent to opaque
Type LocalityGrottes de Neptune, Walloon Region, Belgium
Mineral GroupCarbonates
Usescollector, tourism, scientific study
Associated Mineralsaragonite, gypsum, iron oxides
Raritycommon
Description
The image displays intricate cave formations, including stalactites and flowstone, exhibiting a range of white, cream, and brownish-grey hues with varying textures.
Geological Context
These speleothems are formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate (calcite) from groundwater seeping through limestone, creating diverse structures within the cave environment over geological timescales.
