What Is Calcite? About The Mineral

What Is Calcite? About The Mineral

WHAT IS CALCITE – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about a carbonite mineral known as calcite.

WHAT IS CALCITE
Image from: Institute of Making

As mentioned above, it is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It is defined as value 3 in the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, based on scratch hardness comparison.

Other polymorphs of CaCO3 include aragonite and vaterite, with the former changing to calcite over timescales of days or less at temperatures over 300 degrees Celsius.

It is derived from the German Calcit, which is coined in the Latin term calx or ‘lime’, combined with the Latin term -ite.

As mentioned, it has a defining Mohs hardness of 3, a specific gravity of 2.71, and has a vitreous luster which is in crystallized varieties. Its color is white or none, though there are variations of shades of gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown, or even black if the mineral is charged with impurities.

The mineral is transparent to opaque and may occasionally show phosphorescence or fluorescence. The transparent variety, known as Iceland spar is used for optical purposes. The Acute scalenohedral crystals are known as “dogtooth spar” while the rhombohedral form is sometimes referred to as “nailhead spar”.

READ ALSO: What Is The Scientific Name Of West Caucasian Tur? (ANSWER)

Leave a Comment