mineral
Pink calcite
Calcite (CaCO₃), likely manganese-bearing
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectTypically Mohs hardness 3, pearly to vitreous luster, white to pale pink color, and rhombohedral cleavage; crystals are commonly translucent with irregular fracture. Effervesces readily in dilute hydrochloric acid.
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Physical properties
Typically Mohs hardness 3, pearly to vitreous luster, white to pale pink color, and rhombohedral cleavage; crystals are commonly translucent with irregular fracture. Effervesces readily in dilute hydrochloric acid.
Formation & geological history
Forms in hydrothermal veins, limestone cavities, and sedimentary carbonate deposits; pink color commonly results from trace manganese. Individual specimens may range from recent formation to Paleozoic or younger host-rock ages.
Uses & applications
Collected as a mineral specimen and occasionally used for optical demonstrations; calcite is also important industrially in cement, lime, aggregate, and agricultural soil treatment. This rough piece has little jewelry value because of its softness and cleavage.
Geological facts
Calcite is strongly birefringent: transparent pieces can show doubled images. Pink calcite is often confused with pale rose quartz, but calcite is much softer and reacts with acid.
Field identification & locations
Common localities include Mexico, Peru, the United States, and China. Confirm with a copper-coin or steel-scratch test, rhombohedral cleavage, and acid reaction; visual identification is partly obscured by the rough, matrix-bearing form.