CALCITE

Chemical Formula CaCO3

Composition Calcium carbonate, commonly with some impurities of either iron,
magnesium, manganese, and occasionally with zinc and cobalt. Although all
impurities do not exist together, they are all listed together in the "Variable
Formula" field to avoid confusion.
Variable Formula (Ca,Fe,Mg,Mn,Zn,Co)CO3
Color Occurs in all colors, sometimes even multicolored
Streak White
Hardness 3 on a rhombohedron or cleavage face. 2 - 2½ on the base of a crystal.
Crystal Forms (Hexagonal) Occurs in a great variety of shapes, the commonest forms are
and Aggregates simple rhombohedral and scalenohedral crystals. Crystals may be tabular,
acicular, prismatic, flaky, and needle-like. May occur as bundles of
scalenohedrons, intergrown rhombohedrons, hair-like masses of acicular
crystals, grainy, stalactitic, fibrous, massive, and earthy. Scalenohedral
twinning is common.
Transparency Transparent to translucent
Specific Gravity 2.7
Luster Vitreous
Cleavage 1,3 - rhombohedral
Fracture Conchoidal. Hardly observed because of the perfect cleavage.
Tenacity Brittle
Other ID Marks 1) Commonly fluorescent; specimens from different localities fluoresce
different colors. Some Calcite is also phosphorescent.
2) Exhibits a strong double refraction
3) Sometimes thermoluminescent
Other Names Calcspar
Varieties
Commonly used variety names
Aphrite - Lamellar variety of Calcite.
Cobaltocalcite, Cobalt Calcite, or Cobaltian Calcite - Calcite containing
cobalt. It is the intermediary form between Calcite and Sphaerocobaltite in a
solid solution series. Formula = (Co,Ca)CO3.
Corn Spar - Calcite aggregate resembling a corn cob with distinct kernels
Dogtooth Calcite or Dog-toothed Spar - Calcite in groupings of thick,
scalenohedral crystals.
Hog-toothed Spar - Calcite with long, sharp, incisor-like crystals
Iceland Spar or Optical Calcite - Large, transparent, colorless to lightly
colored, rhombohedral crystals of Calcite. Double refraction is especially
noted in these crystals.
NOTE: Iceland Spar is also used as a synonym of Calcite.
Nail Head Spar - Calcite crystals resembling a nail -- long and thin with a
wide, flat head. Such crystals are formed by two perpendicular
scalenohedral crystals intersecting like a "T".
Rice Grain Spar - Calcite grouping of small, white scalenohedral crystals
appearing as grains of rice.
Salmon Calcite - Orange-red Calcite variety
 Sand Calcite - Calcite that trapped particles of sand in its interior when it
formed

Microcrystalline forms of Calcite *

Stalactite - Icicle-like form of Calcite on the roof of caverns created when
mineral-rich water drips down and the dissolved mineral accumulates into
the icicle-like formation.
Stalagmite - Tall-domed Calcite formations on the bottom of caverns built up
from mineral-rich water that deposits the dissolved mineral on the cavern
floor.
Flowstone - Calcite formed by mineral-rich water that deposits the dissolved
mineral on the walls of caverns and cliffs, forming a smooth and humpy
growth.
Agaric Mineral or Rock Meal - Crumbly white Calcite found on cavern
floors near stalagmites and stalactites.
Tufa, Calcareous Tufa, or Calcareous Sinter - Calcite (or Aragonite)
formed from precipitating water that traps in organic matter, such as leaves,
twigs, and moss. Also calcareous mounds formed from deposition of hot
springs that trap in organic matter.
Travertine - Mounds of calcium carbonate formed from hot springs that
contain calcium rich water. When the water cools, the calcium precipitates
from the water, formng porous mounds of calcium carbonate. Travertine
usually crystallizes as Aragonite.
Onyx Marble, Suisan Marble, California Onyx, Oriental Alabaster, and
Mexican Onyx - Travertine or Tufa with impurities causing it to exhibit color
banding.

Rocks formed from Calcite

Limestone - Rock composed of at least 50% calcium carbonate, containing
impurities such as Quartz, Dolomite, clay, and iron oxides.
Marble - Rock formed from calcium carbonate that recrystallized through
metamorphism.
Chalk - Rock composed of Limestone combined with the skeletal remains of
tiny marine organisms.

Variety names usually applied to other minerals

Alabaster
Calcite connotation = translucent, banded, Travertine or Tufa
Usual connotation = massive, fine-grained variety of Gypsum

Satin Spar
Calcite connotation = fibrous Calcite (or Aragonite)
Usual connotation = fibrous Gypsum

Onyx
Calcite connotation = translucent, banded, Travertine or Tufa with black and
white bands
Usual connotation = Agate banded with black and white bands
Polymorphs Aragonite, Vaterite
In Group Carbonates ; Calcite group
All About Calcite belongs to the calcite group, a group of related carbonates that are
isomorphous with one another. They are similar in many physical properties,
and may partially or fully replace one another, forming a partial solid solution
series. All members of the calcite group crystallize in the trigonal subdivision
of the hexagonal system (as rhombohedrons and scalenohedrons), have
perfect rhombohedral cleavage, and exhibit a strong double refraction in
transparent rhombohedrons.

Calcite is the one of the most common minerals on earth. It occurs in a

seemingly unlimited variety of shapes and colors. It constitutes a major
portion of many of the earth's rocks.

Calcite and Aragonite are polymorphous to each other. Although Calcite

and Aragonite contain the same elements, they differ in crystal structure.
Calcite forms trigonal crystals, whereas Aragonite forms orthorhombic
crystals. Sometimes, the crystals of Calcite and Aragonite are too small to
be detected, and it is only possible to distinguish these two minerals by
complex scientific tests. Since the true identity of these microcrystalline
forms is not known, they are simply labeled as "Calcium Carbonate". This
definition accurately includes both Calcite and Aragonite.

A microcrystalline type of Calcite in globular form is common in certain

regions. This Calcite forms from precipitating calcium-rich water inside
caverns or on limestone cliffs. It exists in the form of stalagmites, stalactites,
and strange globular growths. These growths constantly accumulate,
forming layers. They are frequently impure, trapping in organic matter such
as leaves, twigs, and moss as they accumulate. Because of their impure
status, they are classified by some as rocks. These calcareous growths
have designated names based on their shape, habit, or formation (see the
variety field for a list of the names). Most of these growths are Calcite, but
some are crystallized as Aragonite. The environment of formation, however,
can be a key guide to whether the mineral crystallized as Calcite or
Aragonite. Aragonite will only form these growths by hot springs; all other
growths are Calcite.
Uses Calcite is the primary ore of calcium. Calcite is indispensable in the
construction industry, forming the base of cement. Many important
chemicals are created from Calcite, as well as useful drugs. It is also crucial
in the manufacture of fertilizers, metals, glass, rubber, and paint. The
transparent Iceland Spar variety, in which the double refraction is very
apparent, was used as Nicol prisms for polarizing microscopes and other
optical devices. Calcite forms rocks that are used for ornamental purposes,
such as Marble and banded Travertine or Tufa. Calcite is also the main
component of Chalk, which is processed as drawing chalk. To collectors,
Calcite is one of the best-known and most extensively collected minerals.
Striking Features Hardness, cleavage, fluorescence, and effervescence with hydrochloric acid
Complex Tests 1) Effervesces in hydrochloric acid and most other acids
2) Calcite that doesn't fluoresce usually becomes fluorescent after heating.
Popularity (1-4) 1
Prevalence (1-3) 1
Demand (1-3) 1
Distinguishing Aragonite - different crystal form
Similar Minerals Dolomite - transparent clear Dolomite is indistinguishable from Calcite
unless complicated optical tests are performed. It can also be distinguished
 by the fact that Dolomite only effervesces with warm hydrochloric acid, and
Calcite even with cold, but accurate results of this test are hard to get.
Quartz - much harder (7)
Gypsum - softer (2), is sectile and slightly flexible.
Commonly Many minerals, including Fluorite, Apatite, Barite, Albite, Gypsum, Dolomite,
Occurs With Quartz, and Wollastonite.
Noteworthy There are hundreds of excellent Calcite localities, so only a select few will be
Localities mentioned here:
The original Iceland Spar variety came from a large deposit in Iceland, as its
name suggest. Currently, most Iceland Spar comes from numerous places in
Mexico, where it is found in great abundance. Large, golden-yellow to brown
crystals have come from numerous areas in the tri-state mineral region of
Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Colorless, transparent rhombohedrons
are found associated with Copper on the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan.
Calcite with a strong blue phosphoresce comes from Terlingua, Brewster
Co., Texas. Blue crystal clusters come from Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., New
York, and Calcite fluorescing bright red occurs associated with Franklinite,
Willemite, and Zincite at Franklin and Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey.

Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate
(CaCO3). The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Aragonite
will change to calcite at 470°C, and vaterite is even less stable.

Properties

Calcite crystals are trigonal-rhombohedral, though actual calcite rhombohedra are

rare as natural crystals. However, they show a remarkable variety of habits including
acute to obtuse rhombohedra, tabular forms, prisms, or various scalenohedra.
Calcite exhibits several twinning types adding to the variety of observed forms. It
may occur as fibrous, granular, lamellar, or compact. Cleavage is usually in three
directions parallel to the rhombohedron form. Its fracture is conchoidal, but difficult
to obtain.

It has a Mohs hardness of 3, a specific gravity of 2.71, and its luster is vitreous in
crystallized varieties. Color is white or none, though shades of gray, red, yellow,
green, blue, violet, brown, or even black can occur when the mineral is charged with
impurities.

Calcite is transparent to opaque and may occasionally show phosphorescence or

fluorescence. A transparent variety called Iceland spar is used for optical purposes.
Acute scalenohedral crystals are sometimes referred to as "dogtooth spar".

Single calcite crystals display an optical property called birefringence (double

refraction). This strong birefringence causes objects viewed through a clear piece of
calcite to appear doubled. The birefringent effect (using calcite) was first described
by the Danish scientist Rasmus Bartholin in 1669. At a wavelength of ~590 nm
calcite has ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices of 1.658 and 1.486,
respectively.[4] Between 190 and 1700 nm, the ordinary refractive index varies
roughly between 1.6 and 1.4, while the extraordinary refractive index varies between
1.9 and 1.5.

Calcite, like most carbonates, will dissolve with most forms of acid. Calcite can be
either dissolved by groundwater or precipitated by groundwater, depending on
several factors including the water temperature, pH, and dissolved ion
concentrations. Although calcite is fairly insoluble in cold water, acidity can cause
dissolution of calcite and release of carbon dioxide gas. Calcite exhibits an unusual
characteristic called retrograde solubility in which it becomes less soluble in water
as the temperature increases. When conditions are right for precipitation, calcite
forms mineral coatings that cement the existing rock grains together or it can fill
fractures. When conditions are right for dissolution, the removal of calcite can
dramatically increase the porosity and permeability of the rock, and if it continues for
a long period of time may result in the formation of caverns, most notably the Snowy
River Cave in Lincoln County, New Mexico.

Natural occurrence

The largest documented single crystals of calcite originated from Iceland, measured
7x7x2 m3 and 6x6x3 m3 and weighed ~250 tons.

Calcite is a common constituent of sedimentary rocks, limestone in particular, much

of which is formed from the shells of dead marine organisms. Approximately 10% of
sedimentary rock is limestone.

Calcite is the primary mineral in metamorphic marble. It also occurs as a vein

mineral in deposits from hot springs, and it occurs in caverns as stalactites and
stalagmites.

Calcite may also be found in volcanic or mantle-derived rocks such as carbonatites,

kimberlites, or rarely in peridotites. Lublinite is a fibrous, efflorescent form of calcite.

Calcite is often the primary constituent of the shells of marine organisms, e.g.,
plankton (such as coccoliths and planktic foraminifera), the hard parts of red algae,
some sponges, brachiopoda, echinoderms, most bryozoa, and parts of the shells of
some bivalves, such as oysters and rudists). Calcite is found in spectacular form in
the Snowy River Cave of New Mexico as mentioned above, where microorganisms
are credited with natural formations. Trilobites, which are now extinct, had unique
compound eyes. They used clear calcite crystals to form the lenses of their eyes.

Calcite in Earth history

Calcite seas existed in Earth history when the primary inorganic precipitate of
calcium carbonate in marine waters was low-magnesium calcite (lmc), as opposed
to the aragonite and high-magnesium calcite (hmc) precipitated today. Calcite seas
alternated with aragonite seas over the Phanerozoic, being most prominent in the
Ordovician and Jurassic. Petrographic evidence for these calcite sea conditions
consists of calcitic ooids, lmc cements, hardgrounds, and rapid early seafloor
aragonite dissolution.The evolution of marine organisms with calcium carbonate
shells may have been affected by the calcite and aragonite sea cycle.