mineral

Yellow Calcite

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Hardness: 3 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to deep honey; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Rhombohedral; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific gravity: 2.71.

Hardness: 3 (Mohs scale)
Color: Pale yellow to deep honey
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to deep honey; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Rhombohedral; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific gravity: 2.71.

Formation & geological history

Formed through sedimentation processes in marine environments or through the cooling of mineral-rich hot springs. It can also form as a precipitation mineral in caves.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for ornamental purposes, lapidary work, cabochons, and as a popular specimen for crystal healing and metaphysical collecting. Industrially, calcite is used in lime and cement.

Geological facts

Calcite is the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate and exhibits double refraction (birefringence), where light passing through a clear specimen splits into two rays.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its rhombohedral cleavage, its softness (can be scratched by a penny), and its rapid effervescence (bubbling) when in contact with dilute hydrochloric acid.