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calcite
calcite , very widely distributed mineral, commonly white or colorless, but appearing in a great variety of colors owing to impurities. Chemically it is calcium carbonate, CaCO 3 , but it frequently contains manganese, iron, or magnesium in place of the calcium. It crystallizes in the hexagonal system, its crystals being characterized by highly perfect cleavage. Calcite also occurs in a number of massive forms, in which it may be coarsely to finely granular (as in marble), compact (as in limestone), powdery (as in chalk), or fibrous. One crystalline form, called dogtooth spar because of its dogtooth appearance, exhibits faces of perfect scalene triangles. Another form, satin spar, is finely fibrous and has a satin luster. Iceland spar is clear, transparent calcite. Other important forms of the mineral are limestone , marble , chalk , marl , stalactite and stalagmite formations, travertine , and Oriental alabaster . Millions of tons of calcite, in the form of limestone and marble, are mined annually. Besides its use as a building stone, it is the raw material for quicklime and cement, and is used extensively as a flux in smelting and as a soil conditioner. |
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"calcite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "calcite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-calcite.html "calcite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-calcite.html |
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calcite
calcite Very common, widespread, rock-forming carbonate mineral, one of two polymorphs of CaCO3, the other being aragonite; sp. gr. 2.7; hardness 3; trigonal; usually colourless or white, but may be shades of yellow, grey, green, red, or even brown or black; white streak; vitreous lustre; crystals common, often tabular, prismatic, or rhombohedral, but fibrous aggregates and granular masses may also occur; cleavage perfect rhombohedral {101̄}; cleavage rhombs exhibit double refraction; a major constituent of calcareous sedimentary rocks, e.g. marbles. Calcite can be precipitated from sea water and is a common constituent of invertebrate shells, and late-stage hydrothermal solutions (see HYDROTHERMAL ACTIVITY) may precipitate calcite in cavities in some igneous rocks such as basalts. It is soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid. It is used as a flux, in cement-making and fertilizers, and as a building stone. See also CARBONATES.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-calcite.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-calcite.html |
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calcite
cal·cite / ˈkalˌsīt/ • n. a white or colorless mineral consisting of calcium carbonate. It is a major constituent of sedimentary rocks, can occur in crystalline form, and may be deposited in caves to form stalactites and stalagmites. DERIVATIVES: cal·cit·ic / kalˈsitik/ adj. |
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"calcite." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "calcite." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-calcite.html "calcite." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-calcite.html |
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calcite
calcite A very common form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that is the principal ingredient of many sedimentary rocks (e.g. limestones, marble, and chalk).
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-calcite.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-calcite.html |
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calcite
calcite A very common form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that is the principal ingredient of many sedimentary rocks (e.g. limestones, marble, and chalk).
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-calcite.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "calcite." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-calcite.html |
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calcite
calcite
•calcite • campsite
•website • dacite • insight
•Monophysite • magnesite • eyesight
•hindsight • bombsight • foresight
•bauxite • quartzite • leucocyte
•Hussite • gunsight • phagocyte
•marcasite • parasite • anthracite
•oversight • worksite
•bipartite, multipartite, partite, quadripartite, sexpartite, tripartite
•transvestite • airtight • Hittite
•magnetite • appetite • stalactite
•watertight • Levite • Muscovite
•Hepplewhite • bobwhite
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"calcite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "calcite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-calcite.html "calcite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-calcite.html |
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