Calcite
Image: Thomas Bresson (CC BY 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, yellowish-white
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityUbiquitous, found worldwide
Mineral GroupCarbonates
Usescement, construction, agriculture, optical instruments, collector
Associated Mineralsquartz, fluorite, barite, galena, pyrite
Raritycommon
Description
The image displays a mass of light yellowish-white calcite, exhibiting a granular to botryoidal habit with numerous small, sparkling crystals forming a textured surface.
Geological Context
Calcite is a ubiquitous mineral, forming extensively in sedimentary rocks like limestone and marble, and is a common precipitate in hydrothermal veins and cave formations (speleothems). This granular form could be from a cave or a vug in a sedimentary rock.
