Calcita
Calcita is a mineral with formula CaCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Xianghualing Mine, Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field / Linwu Co., Chenzhou, Hunan, China and joined the Terrium collection in 1998.
Description
Compact group of whitish nail-head calcite rhombohedra set on a vitreous fluorite base with flat faces and clean terminations. Both species are fluorescent, and the calcite also shows weak phosphorescence.
History of this specimen
A representative specimen of a style not yet seen again in more than twenty years—since before 2000—and it stands out especially in a Lucimeras cabinet.
About Calcita
Calcite, a polymorph of calcium carbonate, crystallises in the trigonal system and exhibits fluorescence due to Mn²⁺ activators.
About the locality
Xianghualing is a classic district in southern China, known for veins of fluorite, calcite and sulphides associated with the tin‑polymetallic field. Combined calcite–fluorite pieces from this mine are much prized for their aesthetic balance.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0278
- Composition
- CaCO₃
- Name
- Calcita
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Lucimera
- Matrix
- Fluorita
- Mine
- Xianghualing Mine
- District / Municipality
- Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field / Linwu Co.
- Province
- Chenzhou
- Region
- Hunan
- Country
- China
- Size (cm)
- 9 x 8 x 6
- Weight
- 357.5 g
- Acquired
- 1998
- Ex-collection
- Sergio Petretich
- Etymology
- From the Latin "calx", lime, the etymological root common to calcite, limestone and calcium.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Andersonita — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul (Toralina)) — España
- Aragonito — Italia
- Aragonito — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul) — Italia