Calcite vs Quartz

Property Calcite Quartz
สูตรเคมี CaCO3 SiO2
ระบบผลึก Trigonal Trigonal
หมวดหมู่แร่ธาตุ 05 Carbonates and Nitrates 09 Silicates
ความแข็งโมห์ส 3.0 7.0
สี Colorless, white, yellow, orange, blue, green Colorless, white, purple, pink, brown, black
ความวาว Vitreous Vitreous
สีเส้นขูด White White
ความโปร่งใส Transparent Transparent
การแตกเรียบ Perfect rhombohedral {1011} None
รอยแตก Conchoidal Conchoidal

Key Differences

  • Calcite (hardness 3) is much softer than quartz (hardness 7) and can be scratched by a copper coin.
  • Calcite effervesces vigorously in dilute HCl; quartz does not react.
  • Calcite has perfect rhombohedral cleavage; quartz has no cleavage and breaks conchoidally.
  • Calcite is calcium carbonate (CaCO3); quartz is silicon dioxide (SiO2).
  • Calcite displays double refraction (birefringence) in Iceland spar crystals; quartz does not.

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