What on Earth is Calcite?

Calcite (CaCO3) is a rock-forming mineral that can be found almost anywhere. It's the primary constituent of marble and limestone, and attractive specimens can also be faceted or used for cabochons. See our calcite and tumbled calcite.

The Physical Properties of Calcite

Calcite can appear in a variety of colors, from white, yellowish and colorless, to more vibrant colors like pink, orange, and a bluish shade. It has a relatively low Mohs hardness of three, and it most prominently comes with rhombohedral cleavage. Calcite can exhibit fluorescence, thermoluminescence, and phosphorescence, and its transparency ranges from transparent to opaque. Calcite also has vitreous or resinous luster when fashioned into ornamental objects.

Calcite can be found all over the world, but some of its important gem localities are in Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iceland.

The History of Calcite

The name calcite comes from the Latin word calx which means lime, as in limestone. It was named as a mineral by Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus). It's a mineral that has been in extensive use ever since the ancient times. Construction materials, abrasives, pigments, agricultural soil conditioners, etc., all contained calcite in one form or the other. As a constituent of marble, you can find calcite in many of the monuments of the ancient world.

The Lore of Calcite

According to legend, the ancient Egyptians were quite fond of calcite. They fashioned it into artifacts and also adorned the tombs of the Pharaohs with it. It was significant in their culture as the earth element, and they believed it amplified energy as well as cleared energy blockages. Nowadays calcite is more commonly associated with all four elements, and its uses and effects on our energy depend on its color.

The Metaphysical Properties of Calcite

In crystal lore, calcite is associated with awareness of our habits and with grounding spiritual experiences in the physical world. You can use white or clear calcite to balance all seven chakras, but if you wish to focus on specific ones, orange and yellow calcite match the sacral and solar plexus chakras, while black calcite corresponds to the root chakra.

Different colours carry different associations in crystal lore. Blue calcite is a popular choice for a bedside or desk display, and shoppers like calcite for its soft, glowing colours.

Overall, calcite is a versatile, colourful stone for focus and awareness practices, and a good fit for spheres and displays.