Calcita
Calcita is a mineral with formula CaCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Shimen deposit, Shimen, Provincia de Hunan, Hunan, China and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
A translucent, well-formed calcite crystal almost 4 cm on a grey matrix speckled with realgar and yellow orpiment. An architectural piece.
About Calcita
Calcite is a very common calcium carbonate; in this specimen it shows a well-defined, geometric prismatic habit that is less usual. Realgar and orpiment are photosensitive and toxic arsenic sulphides.
About the locality
Shimen is a low-temperature hydrothermal deposit, a world reference in arsenic extraction. It is notable for large geodes where realgar and orpiment sometimes crystallise alongside calcite crystals of exceptional purity and chromatic vividness.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0182
- Composition
- CaCO₃
- Name
- Calcita
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Cresta Montis
- Matrix
- Matriz de roca metamórfica con costras arsenicales rojas y amarillas
- Associations
- realgar oropimente
- Mine
- Shimen deposit
- District / Municipality
- Shimen
- Province
- Provincia de Hunan
- Region
- Hunan
- Country
- China
- Size (cm)
- 6.5 x 6.5 x 5
- Weight
- 80.7 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Etymology
- From the Latin "calx", quicklime, in allusion to lime and calcium oxide.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Andersonita — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul (Toralina)) — España
- Aragonito — Italia
- Aragonito — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul) — Italia