Mineral - Calcite
Calcite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Carbonates
Toxicity
none
Formula
CaCO₃
Unit Cell
a=4.99 c=17.06 Z=6
Physical Properties
Hardness
3
Streak
white
Density
Normal (2-3,5)
Cleavage
Perfect after {10 1 1}
Fracture
conchoidal
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
whiteblackbrowngrayredyellowgreenbluepinkcolorless
Birefringence
0.172
Luster
Vitreous,
Pearly
Transparency
translucent,
transparent,
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
trigonal
Point Group
ditrigonal-scalenohedral - 3 m
Space Group
R 3 c (167)
Habit
dipyramidal, granular, crusty, spherical, massive, prismatic, Rhombohedron, Scalenohedron, spear-shaped, stalactitic, tabular
Formation
Magmatic, sedimentary, metamorphic
Paragenesis
Twinning
After multiple {hkl}
Rarity
Very common
Synonyms
Calcite
Composition
Elements
Mass
CO₂
44.22
FeO
0.43
MgO
1.74
CaO
53.60
USA (Palache et al. 1952)
Groups and Members
Calcite-Group