Scientific Name: Calcium carbonate
Group: Carbonates
Chemical composition: CaOCO2; Mn, Fe, and Mg may partially replace the Ca
Colors: pale to deep blue
Hardness: 3
Formation: Rhombohedral and scalenohedral crystals. Twinning is common.
Principal Sources: Worldwide
Special Notes: Calcite is one of the most important minerals. It is extremely common and found throughout the world in sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. In the form of limestone and marble it makes up a significant portion of Earth’s crust and serves as one of the largest carbon repositories on our planet. The properties of calcite make it extremely useful as: construction materials, abrasives, agricultural soil treatments, construction aggregates, pigments, pharmaceuticals and more. Calcite is the main element in limestones and marbles.