Calcite: The Mineral with the Most Forms

by Terry Huizing (Editor), Howard Heitner (Translator), Reinhard Balzer (Photographer)

ExtraLapis Engish, #4.

In collaboration with Lapis Magazine, Christian Weise Verlag, Germany; and Lapis International, USA.

To collectors, the word calcite invokes thoughts of shape and for good reason: calcite is found in more habits than any other mineral. It has fascinated crystallographers for generations. Over its long history, calcite has been instrumental in shaping the worlds of microscopy, architecture, mineralogy, technology, physics and even the science of war. Pure calcite is colorless, but even trace impurities can bring intense color to its many forms, and the correct cut can transform common calcite into a stunning gemstone.

The ExtraLapis series is well known for the quality, color photographs and clear diagrams that illustrate its plain-language texts. Included in #4: Calcite are articles on the mineralogy, optics and gemology of the species as well as articles covering calcite pseudomorphs, fluorescence, cave occurrences and cleaning. A full 45 pages are dedicated to great specimens and occurrences in China, Russia, Germany, England, Brazil and the United States.

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the crystallography and dazzling photographs, stay for excellent summaries of famous calcite localities and the instructions on how to clean a specimen with sodium dithionite.