mineral

Yellow Calcite

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden; Luster: Vitreous to waxy/pearly; Crystal System: Trigonal; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific Gravity: 2.71

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale yellow to golden
Luster: Vitreous to waxy/pearly

Identified July 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden; Luster: Vitreous to waxy/pearly; Crystal System: Trigonal; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific Gravity: 2.71

Formation & geological history

Forms in sedimentary environments through chemical precipitation from calcium-rich solutions, or as a secondary mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Often found in hydrothermal veins.

Uses & applications

Used for carvings, decorative stones, acid neutralization in industry, and as a popular specimen for crystal collectors.

Geological facts

Calcite exhibits double refraction (birefringence), where a single ray of light entering the crystal is split into two. Yellow calcite is often associated with the solar plexus chakra in metaphysical beliefs.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified by its relative softness (scratched by a copper penny/knife) and its rapid effervescence when exposed to dilute hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in limestone quarries and caves worldwide.