Mineral 1.0Test your knowledge of specific minerals

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Calcite (massive)CaCO3

Class: Carbonate
Hardness: 3
Density: 2.7
Streak: White
Lustre: Vitreous
Habit: Fine grained aggregates (massive)
Colours: Colourless, white, gray, yellow-brown, pink, rose red

  Crystal System: Hexagonal
Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral
Fracture: Subconchoidal
Magnetism: None
Reaction with HCl: Strong

Identification in hand sample:
Recognized by hardness and cleavage. Dolomite and aragonite have higher densities.

Associations:
Common as a cementing agent in clastic sediments, or as fossil fragments. Essential constituent of limestone.

Industrial / ecomonic uses:
Used in the manufacture of portland cement (quicklime). Also used as a pharmaceutical (antacids, calcium supplements).

  

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