Calcite

UNB-2020-0080Minerals » Carbonates

Description

Original Description: *Incomplete. Calcite (CaCO3) can be white, colourless, pale shades of grey, yellow, red, green, blue or brown to black when impure. Lustre is vitreous or dull and streak is white. Hardness is 3 and cleavage is perfect in three directions forming a rhombohedron. Calcite usually occurs as rhombohedron, scalenohedron or prisms but can also be tabular, acicular, cleavable, granular, compact, stalactitic, oolitic or earthy. Twinned crystals are common.

Specifications

Object nameCalcite
IDUNB-2020-0080
Legal statusPermanent collection
CategoryMineral
Classification
Mineral group:
Carbonates
Composition
  • CO₃²⁻
OriginUnknown
Pieces1
PartialNo

Publications

  • Chesterman, C.W. 1979. Audubon Society, Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals. Knopf.