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Calcite

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Calcite
Mineral structure: Carbonate Common mineral in Limestones, Marbles, Calc-silicates, Veins Rock-forming minerals associated with Calcite: various Ca-rich silicates (e.g. plagioclase and amphibole), quartz in sedimentary rocks

Calcite in Marble
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Key optical features of calcite in thin section: Colourless (Cloudy) Most sections show two intersecting cleavages High Low relief (changes on rotation of stage) High order interference colours Common minerals that might be confused with calcite and occur in similar rocks: Quartz (No cleavage, low relief, low interference colours extinction),

Calcite in limestone
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Calcite

Calcite shape
Biogenic calcite in limestone with calcite cement between bioclasts Analyser out Analyser in

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Calcite cleavage and twinning in marble

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Analyser out

Analyser Calcite in

Note: Granoblastic texture. Most calcite grains show two sets of cleavage traces.

Calcite interference colours in calc-silicates

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Note: Very high interference colours typically merge to produce golden-brown colour

Calcite relief change in quartz-rich calc-silicate

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Note: Relief of calcite changes form low to high when stage is rotated. Take the Calcite test Return to top Return to introduction

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