Calcite is a mineral. Chemically, it is a polymorph of calcium carbonate. It comprises about 4% of the earth's crust by weight. The word Calcite comes from the Greek word 'chalix' that stands for lime.
Calcite is usually transparent to translucent and may be white or colorless. It also has some green, gray and yellow varieties. Calcite may also appear as pink, red, orange or blue. It sometimes also exhibits phosphorescence and fluorescence.
In nature, calcite is most commonly found in many types of sedimentary rocks and in the shells of bivalves like oysters and other marine animals.
Calcite is also a very useful mineral. Some of its most common uses are manufacture of cement, lime, in the steel and industries, and to make ornamental goods.
Some commonly known varieties of calcite are:
Mexican Onyx (used for ornamental purposes mostly)
Iceland spar (used in optical equipment)
Some places which have notable amounts of calcite are Pugh Quarry (Ohio), Elmwood (Tennessee) and Rosiclare (Illinois).
Calcite is usually transparent to translucent and may be white or colorless. It also has some green, gray and yellow varieties. Calcite may also appear as pink, red, orange or blue. It sometimes also exhibits phosphorescence and fluorescence.
In nature, calcite is most commonly found in many types of sedimentary rocks and in the shells of bivalves like oysters and other marine animals.
Calcite is also a very useful mineral. Some of its most common uses are manufacture of cement, lime, in the steel and industries, and to make ornamental goods.
Some commonly known varieties of calcite are:
Mexican Onyx (used for ornamental purposes mostly)
Iceland spar (used in optical equipment)
Some places which have notable amounts of calcite are Pugh Quarry (Ohio), Elmwood (Tennessee) and Rosiclare (Illinois).
