mineral

Yellow Calcite

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: honey-yellow to pale orange; Luster: vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: perfect rhombohedral in three directions; Specific gravity: 2.71

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale
Color: honey-yellow to pale orange
Luster: vitreous to waxy

Identified May 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through sedimentary precipitation in marine environments or hydrothermal veins. It results from the accumulation of shell, coral, and algal debris or by chemical precipitation from calcium-rich water.

Uses & applications

Commonly used as a decorative stone, in metaphysical practices for 'cleansing energy', and as a source of lime in cement and agriculture when in bulk rock form.

Geological facts

Calcite is one of the most common minerals on Earth. It exhibits double refraction (birefringence), where light passing through a clear specimen splits into two rays, causing objects behind it to appear doubled.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its relative softness (can be scratched by a copper coin) and its vigorous reaction (effervescence) to weak acids like vinegar. Common in limestone regions and marble quarries.