Orange Calcite Crystal

About

Orange Calcite is a calcium carbonate mineral with the formula CaCO₃, crystallizing in the trigonal system. Its warm, saturated orange color ranges from pale peach to deep tangerine and is caused by iron impurities within the calcite lattice. With a Mohs hardness of just 3, orange calcite is a soft mineral that scratches easily and should be stored separately from harder stones. Major sources include Mexico, Brazil, and Pakistan. Calcite is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth and a primary component of limestone and marble. Orange calcite specifically is popular among collectors for its vibrant, sunny color and its strong double refraction — a phenomenon where light passing through transparent calcite crystals splits into two rays, producing a visible "double image" of anything viewed through the stone. This optical property, shared by all calcite varieties, was historically used by Viking navigators as a "sunstone" to locate the sun on overcast days. Orange calcite takes a beautiful polish and is frequently carved into spheres, flames, and other decorative shapes. Our orange calcite collection features: Polished spheres, flames, and freeforms Tumbled stones and palm stones Raw specimens and chunks Bracelets and jewelry Explore the full collection below. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is orange calcite?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Orange calcite is a calcium carbonate mineral (CaCO₃) that belongs to the calcite group. It crystallizes in the trigonal system and gets its warm orange color — ranging from pale peach to deep tangerine — from iron impurities within the calcite lattice. It is one of the most vibrant color varieties of calcite and is prized by collectors for its bold, sunny appearance and characteristic double refraction." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is orange calcite good for?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Orange calc