Mineral Name

Calcite

Chemical Formula

CaCO3

Creator

Preview

Color

colorless, white, pink, yellow, brown

Class

Article

Luster

vitreous (glassy)

Diaphaneity

transparent to translucent to opaque

Hardness

3 (Moh's index)

Cleavage

3 directions: {1011} perfect, {1011} perfect, {1011} perfect

Fracture

brittle - conchoidal

Density

2.71

Crystal Shape

Prismatic (in long or short prisms), rhombohedral, and scalenohedral. All possible combinations and variations of these types are found.

Crystal System

Hexagonal

Comments

picture shows example of optical calcite, double-refraction. Will effervesce readlily on contact with dilute HCL.

Streaming Media