mineral

Orange Calcite

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Orange to honey-gold; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Rhombohedral; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in three directions; Specific gravity: 2.71

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale
Color: Orange to honey-gold
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified May 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Orange to honey-gold; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Rhombohedral; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in three directions; Specific gravity: 2.71

Formation & geological history

Formed through sedimentary processes, often precipitated from marine organisms or in hydrothermal veins and hot springs. It can occur in a wide range of geological environments from the Paleozoic to the Cenozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as decorative stone, lapidary carvings, and metaphysical collecting. Also used in the production of cement, lime, and as a soil conditioner in powdered form.

Geological facts

Calcite is one of the most common minerals on Earth. Orange calcite specifically gets its color from tiny inclusions of hematite or other iron oxides during formation.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its rhombohedral cleavage (slanted cube shape), its softness (can be scratched by a copper coin), and its vigorous effervescence (bubbling) when exposed to a drop of cold dilute hydrochloric acid.