mineral
Orange Calcite (Iron-Stained)
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 (Mohs scale), Color: Orange/Rusty Red due to iron oxide impurities, Luster: Vitreous to pearly, Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Rhombohedral, Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in three directions.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 (Mohs scale), Color: Orange/Rusty Red due to iron oxide impurities, Luster: Vitreous to pearly, Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Rhombohedral, Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in three directions.
Formation & geological history
Formed in marine environments through chemical precipitation or biologically by organisms. This specimen specifically likely formed via hydrothermal veins or in sedimentary basins where iron-rich groundwater stained the calcite matrix.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative stone, lapidary material, mineral specimens for collectors, and sometimes in the manufacture of cement or as a soil conditioner.
Geological facts
Calcite is one of the most common minerals on Earth. It is the primary component of limestone and marble. Orange varieties get their color from hematite or goethite inclusions trapped during crystallization.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its 3-way rhombohedral cleavage and its vigorous reaction (effervescence) when touched with a drop of weak hydrochloric acid or white vinegar.
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