White calcite is a very common calcium carbonate mineral that is easily identified by its rhombohedral cleavage and relative softness. It reacts vigorously with dilute hydrochloric acid, which distinguishes it from similar-looking quartz. Collectors prize it for its diverse crystal habits and its often spectacular fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
Is this white calcite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch white calcite with a known reference. White Calcite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. White Calcite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. White Calcite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: rhombohedral crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
White Calcite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside white calcite
Minerals reported to co-occur with white calcite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.71 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Rhombohedral Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect Rhombohedral
- Fluorescence
- Often Bright Pink or White Under SW UV
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Educational, Industrial
- Host rock
- Limestone, Marble, Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $5-30 for cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find white calcite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Mexico
- USA
- Iceland
- Germany
- China
Field-hunting tip
Look in limestone, marble, hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where white calcite typically forms. If you start seeing fluorite, quartz, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a rhombohedral crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Missouri. Start trip planning there.
More white calcite photos
Common questions
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Find white calcite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
