4.1" Calcite and Dolomite Crystal Association - China

This is a beautiful mineral association that features calcite crystals that formed in association with dolomite. It was collected from Manoshan in the Hunan Province of China. The dolomite is tan/yellow in color and has a bladed appearance. The calcite is relatively clear to grey in color, and under UV light, fluoresces a faint orange color.

The rock of this specimen is relatively flat, creating a phenomenal presentation layout for the pristine calcite crystal that sits on what could be considered the top of the specimen.

Calcite, CaCO3, is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Calcite crystals are trigonal-rhombohedral, though actual calcite rhombohedra are rare as natural crystals. However, they show a remarkable variety of habits including acute to obtuse rhombohedra, tabular forms, and prisms. Calcite exhibits several twinning types adding to the variety of observed forms. It may occur as fibrous, granular, lamellar, or compact. Cleavage is usually in three directions parallel to the rhombohedron form.

Dolomite is an anhydrous carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO3)2).

The mineral dolomite crystallizes in the trigonal-rhombohedral system. It forms white, tan, gray, or pink crystals. Dolomite is a double carbonate, having an alternating structural arrangement of calcium and magnesium ions. It does not rapidly dissolve in dilute hydrochloric acid as calcite does. Crystal twinning is common.

Dolomite was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1768, and in 1791 it was described as a rock by the French naturalist and geologist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu. He first recognized the material in buildings of the old city of Rome, and later as samples collected in the mountains known as the Dolomite Alps of northern Italy.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Calcite & Dolomite
LOCATION
Manoshan, Hunan Province, China
SIZE
4.1" tall, 3.8" wide
CATEGORY
ITEM
#91076