calcite - calcite cleavage rhombs from Morocco - Unit of 12 smaller student specimens

Calcite, CaCO_3, is an extremely common rock forming mineral. In pegmatites it forms large masses and it makes up some limestones almost entirely. It has a large variety of crystal forms, but these do not include the rhombus-shaped pieces that are sold as “calcite crystals.” The rhombs are produced by cleaving calcite in three directions between rows of atoms. 

When calcite is free of impurities and is optically clear, it exhibits double refraction. When it is placed above a line drawn on paper and rotated, the drawn line doubles and becomes single depending on the angle of rotation. These specimens are not clear enough to demonstrate this, but they are excellent examples of cleavage rhombs and are of a decent size for your students. The pencil is 5 1/2" long, for scale.

We challenge you to find better student specimens from any supplier. These are clean sharp rhombs of variously-colored calcite from Morocco. The photos are representative of what we ship.

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