mineral

Orange Calcite

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale orange to honey-yellow; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Rhombohedral; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in three directions; Specific Gravity: 2.71

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale orange to honey-yellow
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified February 13, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through sedimentary processes, often occurring as massive veins in limestone or precipitated in thermal springs. It can also form via hydrothermal activity in vein deposits. It is found in rocks spanning various geological ages from Precambrian to recent.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for decorative carvings, ornamental stones, and metaphysical 'healing' crystals. Historically, pure calcite has been used as a source of lime for mortar and as a flux in steel manufacturing.

Geological facts

Calcite is famous for its double refraction (birefringence); however, in this massive orange form, it is more prized for its 'glow' when backlit. It is the main component of stalactites and stalagmites in caves.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinctive rhombohedral cleavage and its effervescence (bubbling) when touched by a drop of diluted hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in Mexico, Brazil, and the USA (Utah).