Orange Calcite Palmstone

Calcite, also called lime-spar, is a very common rock-forming mineral. The word calcite comes from the Latin calx and the Greek chalix, which means lime. Calcite has more uses than almost any other mineral. It is used as a construction material (in the form of limestone and marble), pigment, agricultural soil treatment, pharmaceutical, acid neutralizer in the chemical industry and more. Calcite is an effective abrasive cleaning agent that will not harm kitchen and bathroom surfaces. High-grade optical calcite was used in World War II for gun sights, bomb sights and anti-aircraft weaponry. A specific form a calcite is used for calibration in mass spectrometry. Calcite is a carbonate mineral and is found everywhere. It is an extremely common constituent of sedimentary rock, especially limestone. A great deal of calcite is formed from the shells of dead marine organisms. Calcite may also be found in volcanic or mantle-derived rocks. A relatively soft stone, calcite has a Mohs hardness of