This mineral is a type of the silicate group and has the chemical formula CaCO3. It's color varies from white to gray to pink, and it can be found as translucent rhombohedrons or as crystals with a scalenohedral shape. Calcite was first discovered in Scotland around 1669, but now it's found all over the world, usually where there are limestone rocks.
Calcite is an important mineral because it helps keep our planet's environment stable by removing excess carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. But that process only works if calcite is exposed to oxygen! Rainwater seeping through soil can dissolve calcium from limestone rocks and deposit it on rock surfaces again. Scientists study these processes to learn more about how carbon dioxide moves between air and rocks, and to gain a better understanding of the soil composition in different environments, including those at the bottom of oceans.
Some people collect calcite crystals because they are beautiful pieces of translucent rock. However, most of it is used for other purposes: plaster, paint, papermaking and lime are just a few! Calcite is also used in deodorant because it has anti-microbial properties that helps keep you healthy.
Calcite forms in a variety of ways:
· Calcite can form when carbon dioxide cooled and condensed into tiny droplets. These droplets fused with calcium-rich water and formed sedimentary rocks. Over time, the water evaporated to become our Earth's atmosphere.
· If limestone rock is subjected to pressure over millions of years, it will transform into marble. But if that same pressure isn't strong enough, calcite is created instead of marble. Another way to create calcite is when it crystallizes from a solution that was saturated with calcium and carbon dioxide (the same way limestone does).
· During the formation of limestone in seas with a high concentration of magnesium, aragonite may be formed instead of calcite.
· Calcite can also form when seawater with a high amount of calcium is heated and evaporates to become a gas. This gas cools and condenses to form calcite crystals in a process called convection precipitation. Deep-sea organisms often die as they get closer to the surface, and their shells will eventually fall into seafloor sediments. The sediments are then heated by magma that pushes upward from Earth's mantle, which drives off the water content in them so they can turn into limestone.
A common notion of calcite is that it is a stone which can provide support. However, calcite actually provides more than just supportive qualities - it also possesses the ability to provide clarity of thought, and bring balance to the mind. In fact, calcite has many positive effects on health in general!
Calcite demand and challenges have been increasing in recent years due to its popularity as an ornamental and utilitarian piece of rock. To meet this demand, there are two main approaches which can be used: mining or importing from other countries. While mining may seem like the obvious choice due to its availability, there are many other factors that need to be considered when making this decision.
Rocks such as calcite, quartz, and feldspar are often mined in sedimentary rock systems. These rocks are common in many places throughout the United States including Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arkansas. To get to these rocks, miners must excavate the top layers of rock and move it to the surface. This process is very labor-intensive and takes a large amount of time.
On the other hand, some rocks such as dolomite can be imported from countries such as Brazil or China at a more reasonable price than mining. This process may seem ideal because it allows for more time-saving methods to be used when obtaining the material needed for everyday life and creating sculptures/artwork using calcite.
