Physical Properties
CaCO3; Hardness 3; Cleavage rhombohedral; hydrochloric acid reaction; white, colorless, pale shades of gray, yellow, red, green, blue; Luster vitreous (glassy). .
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Description
This is a typical specimen of calcite showing the perfect rhombohedral cleavage (multiple cleaves through the specimen), clear to slightly gray color, and vitreous (glassy) luster. There are, however, many variations on calcite so you must be alert for the defining physical properties, which are the rhombohedral cleavage and reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid.
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