Calcite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameCalcite
Chemical FormulaCaCO3
Mohs Hardness3
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect rhombohedral in three directions
Fractureconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity2.71
Colorswhite, pale pink, pale purple, fluorescent pink, fluorescent purple
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityBatere Mine, Pyrénées Orientales, France
Mineral GroupCarbonates
Usesconstruction, industrial, optical, collector, soil conditioner
Associated Mineralsquartz, fluorite, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, dolomite
Raritycommon
Description
A cluster of blocky, somewhat tabular calcite crystals, appearing off-white to pale pinkish-purple in daylight and exhibiting strong pink-purple fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
Geological Context
Calcite is a ubiquitous mineral, forming in diverse geological settings including sedimentary rocks (limestone), metamorphic rocks (marble), and as a common gangue mineral in hydrothermal veins, often associated with metallic ore deposits.
