Calcite vs Fluorite

Property Calcite Fluorite
化学式 CaCO3 CaF2
晶系 Trigonal Cubic (Isometric)
鉱物分類 05 Carbonates and Nitrates 03 Halides
モース硬度 3.0 4.0
Colorless, white, yellow, orange, blue, green Purple, blue, green, yellow, colorless, pink
光沢 Vitreous Vitreous
条痕色 White White
透明度 Transparent Transparent
劈開 Perfect rhombohedral {1011} Perfect octahedral {111}
断口 Conchoidal Conchoidal

Key Differences

  • Calcite (hardness 3) is scratched by a copper coin; fluorite (hardness 4) requires a steel knife to scratch.
  • Calcite reacts vigorously with dilute HCl; fluorite does not react with HCl.
  • Fluorite has perfect octahedral cleavage (4 directions); calcite has perfect rhombohedral cleavage (3 directions).
  • Fluorite (CaF2) is a halide; calcite (CaCO3) is a carbonate.
  • Fluorite fluoresces under UV light (phenomenon named after it); calcite rarely fluoresces.

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