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
色 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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