Calcite Braid Bracelet

Description

Calcite is a carbonate mineral, meaning it contains the carbonate ion as a fundamental building block. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth and can be found in various geological settings. Its name is derived from the Latin, “calx” (lime), highlighting the minerals close assocation with limestone and other calcium-rich rocks.

Calcite has a trigonal crystal structure and belongs to the hexagonal crystal system as a result. The carbonate ions form triangular units with one carbon atom at the center and three oxygen atoms at the corners. These carbonate units stack and interconnect with calcium ions in between. This symmetrical arrangement give calcite its characteristic rhombohedral cleavage and wide range of crystal shapes. Furthermore, this crystal lattice arrangement contributes to its double refraction ability, where light passing through the crystal is split into two rays that follow slightly different paths within the crystal.

Calcite can occur in a wide range of colors and often exhibits a translucent to transparent appearance. When polished, it can display a shiny or glassy appearance and has a relatively low hardness on the Mohs scale of a rating of 3.