Overview
The calcite series refers to calcium carbonate minerals sharing the CaCO₃ composition but differing in crystal structure. Calcite (trigonal system) and aragonite (orthorhombic system) are the primary members, with calcite being the stable polymorph at standard conditions. These minerals form through both biological processes (marine organisms) and inorganic precipitation, accounting for approximately 4% of Earth's crust. Geologically, calcite series minerals occur in sedimentary rocks (limestone, chalk), metamorphic rocks (marble), and hydrothermal veins. Their industrial significance stems from exceptional optical properties (double refraction in calcite) and chemical reactivity with acids. The series demonstrates perfect rhombohedral cleavage in calcite and needle-like crystal habits in aragonite.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Calcite series minerals exhibit distinct physical characteristics despite identical chemical composition. Calcite displays double refraction (birefringence) where light splits into two rays - a property utilized in polarizing microscopes. It has a Mohs hardness of 3 and specific gravity of 2.71, making it softer but denser than gypsum. Aragonite shows higher density (2.93 g/cm³) and greater solubility in water. Chemically, both polymorphs react vigorously with dilute acids, producing carbon dioxide effervescence - a key identification test. Thermal decomposition begins at 400°C, completely converting to calcium oxide (quicklime) at 900°C. Calcite's stability below 30°C causes aragonite to gradually convert to calcite in geological timeframes, a process accelerated by heat and moisture.
Main Applications
Construction industries consume over 50% of mined calcite series minerals as crushed stone, dimension stone (marble), and cement raw material. High-purity calcite (>98.5% CaCO₃) serves as filler in plastics (improving stiffness) and paper coatings (enhancing brightness). Ground calcium carbonate (GCC) with controlled particle sizes (3-20μm) optimizes opacity in paints. Agricultural applications include soil pH correction (liming agent) and calcium supplementation in animal feed. Specialty uses exploit calcite's optical properties in Nicol prisms and polarizing filters. Recent developments include nano-calcite for drug delivery systems and aragonite's use in biomedical scaffolds due to its enhanced solubility in physiological conditions.
Safety and Storage
As non-toxic materials, calcite series minerals pose minimal chemical hazards but require dust control measures. OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for calcium carbonate dust is 15 mg/m³ (total dust) and 5 mg/m³ (respirable fraction). Storage facilities should maintain relative humidity below 65% to prevent caking in powdered forms. Bulk storage piles should be covered to minimize wind dispersal of fine particles. Incompatible materials include strong acids (hydrochloric, sulfuric) which cause violent reactions. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling includes NIOSH-approved N95 respirators for fine powders and safety goggles to prevent eye irritation from dust particles.
B2B Procurement Guide
Industrial buyers should specify: 1) Mineral type (calcite vs aragonite) 2) Particle size distribution (D50 value) 3) Whiteness index (CIE L* ≥ 95 for premium grades) 4) Acid insolubles content (<0.5% for high purity). GCC prices typically range $80-120/ton for 325 mesh (45μm) construction grade, while surface-treated nano-calcite commands $800-1,200/ton. Key suppliers cluster near geological deposits - Mexico and China dominate marble-derived calcite, while marine aragonite sources concentrate in the Bahamas. Third-party certification (ISO 9001, REACH compliance) ensures quality consistency. Bulk shipments via supersacks (1-1.5 ton) optimize logistics for medium-scale buyers, while tanker trucks suit micronized slurry deliveries to paper mills.
Related Manufacturers
- 主营：滑石粉、超细滑石粉、重钙粉、方解石粉、超细重钙粉、碳酸钙、白云石粉、菱镁石粉、氧化镁、超细氧化镁、水镁石粉、氢氧化镁、绿泥石粉、石英砂、白砂、煅烧滑石粉、海城滑石粉、塑料级滑石粉、工业级滑石粉、微细滑石粉、滑石粉1250目、滑石粉800目、涂料级滑石粉
- 主营：超细硅酸铝粉、硅藻土、膨润土、方解石、高岭土、滑石粉、彩砂、透明粉、白炭黑、金刚砂、石墨、海泡石、木粉、轻钙、重钙、玻璃粉、贝壳粉、凹凸棒土、玻璃鳞片、陶土、铝矾土、火山岩、电气石粉、合成云母、赤铁粉
- 主营：高岭土、膨润土、硅藻土、方解石、碳酸钙、滑石粉、木粉、木质纤维、负离子粉、水洗高岭土、煅烧高岭土、轻质碳酸钙、重质碳酸钙、钙基膨润土、钠基膨润土、玉米芯、杨木粉、沸石粉、负离子液
- 主营：干燥粉、氧化钙、生石灰粉、方解石粉、营养补充剂、环氧胶黏剂
- 主营：石墨粉、石油焦粉、沸石粉、方解石、白沸石、重钙粉、火山石、核桃壳、氧化钙、浮石、膨润土、石油焦增碳剂、莫来石、重晶石粉、煅烧石油焦、木粉、石英砂、鳞片石墨、萤石粉、膨润土球、氢氧化钙、石灰石粉、莫来砂、高岭土、滑石粉、收尘粉
- 主营：超细滑石粉、重钙粉、白云石粉、方解石粉、绿泥石粉
- 主营：重钙粉、轻钙粉、重质碳酸钙、方解石颗粒、轻质碳酸钙、钙基膨润土、钠基膨润土、碳酸钙、超细氢氧化钙、生石灰粉、猫砂矿砂、报纸纤维、脱硫石灰石粉、石英砂、白沙子、天然水洗石、卵石砾石、水磨石、白色黑色鹅卵石、天然鹅卵石、天然彩砂、染色彩砂、高岭土、五彩石、贝壳颗粒、圆粒砂海沙
- 主营：方解石、回转式焙烧窑
- 主营：介质粉、污水处理磁粉、活性白土、方解石、铁粉、重质碳酸钙、轻质碳酸钙、远红外粉、滑石粉、煅烧滑石粉、配重砂、贝壳粉、石英粉、玻璃粉、麦饭石粉、白云石粉、硅藻土、绿沸石、石膏粉、陶土、四氧化三铁、硅灰、矿渣粉、粉煤灰、膨润土、硫化铁
- 主营：杨木粉、云母粉、蛭石粉、方解石、膨润土、电气石、莫来砂、硅藻土、碳酸钙、石英砂、有机覆盖物、80目锯末、云母20目、碳粉200目、防火材料、高岭土、叶腊石粉、沸石、海泡石粉、橡胶涂料、膨胀蛭石、空心漂珠、油田堵漏剂、火山石粉、重晶石粉、珍珠岩粉
- 主营：彩色石子、彩沙、有机覆盖物、方解石、火山岩、石英砂、彩色玻璃砂、蛭石、岩片、钙粉、鹅卵石、膨润土、粉煤灰、铝矾土、油田堵漏剂、高岭土、木粉、河沙、石膏粉、珍珠岩、陶粒、金刚砂
- 主营：磁选机、永磁铁、除铁器、方解石、磁选设备、除铁设备、选矿设备、长方形吸铁石、铁铝分离设备、高效矿选设备、矿山电磁吸铁器、电磁除铁器、自卸式除铁器、电磁磁选机、平板磁选机、滚筒磁选机
- 主营：鹅卵石、水洗石、荧光石、方解石、石英砂、金刚砂、滑石粉、火山石、砾石、石子、白沙子、石墨粉
- 主营：防冻液、冰醋酸、乙二醇、方解石、冰乙酸、纯吡啶、丙二醇、羟基苯、14丁二醇、3-丙三醇、四氢呋喃、环保乙腈、化工苯酚、1.4丁二醇、医用苯酚、工业苯酚、精制苯酚、价位四氢、乙腈工业、乙酸乙酯、吡啶化工、甲酸乙酯、吡啶工业、求购苯酚、高纯三氯、实验乙腈
- 主营：天然鹅卵石、雨花石、彩色石子、方解石、蛭石、营养土、火山石、黑色金刚砂、地坪五彩石、变压器鹅卵石、鹅卵石滤料、水处理鹅卵石、分目烘干砂、石英砂、黑白石英砂