mineral

Orange Calcite (Dogtooth/Cluster)

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Orange, reddish-brown, white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/rhombohedral; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific Gravity: 2.71

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale
Color: Orange, reddish-brown, white
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 23, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Orange, reddish-brown, white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/rhombohedral; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific Gravity: 2.71

Formation & geological history

Formed through sedimentary precipitation in marine environments or hydrothermal veins where calcium-rich fluids cool and crystallize. Most commercial specimens range from 20 to 100 million years old, though formation can happen in much younger karst systems.

Uses & applications

Used primarily for ornamental carvings, as decorative room decor, in the metaphysical/healing stone market, and sometimes crushed for industrial acid neutralization or as a calcium supplement in animal feed.

Geological facts

Calcite is famous for its double refraction (birefringence), where light entering the crystal is split into two rays. It is the primary constituent of limestone and marble. The orange color is typically caused by iron oxide inclusions within the crystal lattice.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its softness (can be scratched by a copper penny) and its vigorous reaction (effervescence) when touched with room-temperature dilute hydrochloric acid or vinegar. Common locations include Mexico, Brazil, and the USA (notably Utah and Missouri).

Other mineral specimens

See all

Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Epidote

Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

metamorphic

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral

Epidote

Epidote - Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)3(SiO4)3(OH)

mineral