mineral

Honey Calcite

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

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

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale
Color: Golden-yellow to honey-brown
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 20, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through sedimentary processes, often precipitated from marine environments or hydrothermal veins. Can also be found in metamorphic marble or igneous carbonatites. Common across various geological ages.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a decorative collector's specimen, in metaphysical practices, and occasionally as a source of lime in industrial chemical processes or as a building material ingredient.

Geological facts

Calcite is one of the most common minerals on Earth, but the honey-colored variety gets its distinct hue from trace amounts of iron or organic impurities during crystallization.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its rhombohedral cleavage (tilting cubes) and its rapid effervescence when exposed to cold dilute hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in Mexico, Brazil, and the USA.