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Crystal meanings
Calcite: meaning, traditions and care
Calcite is calcium carbonate, the mineral that makes up limestone and marble, usually almost every colour: orange, honey, green, blue, white and clear. In modern crystal tradition it is linked with clearing and renewal of energy. At 3 on the Mohs scale it is softer than quartz (7), so it scratches more easily and needs gentle handling.
Key facts
| Calcite | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Calcium carbonate, the mineral that makes up limestone and marble |
| Colour | Almost every colour: orange, honey, green, blue, white and clear |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 3 |
| Typical sources | Mexico, Brazil, Iceland and many other places |
| Chakra (tradition) | Varies by colour (orange with sacral, green with heart, blue with throat) |
| Star signs (tradition) | Cancer and Leo |
History and folklore
- Clear 'Iceland spar' calcite splits light into a double image, and some historians think Viking navigators used a 'sunstone' like it to find the sun on cloudy days.
- Calcite fizzes in a drop of dilute acid, which is how geologists test for it.
Traditional meaning
In modern crystal tradition calcite is associated with clearing and renewal of energy. These ideas mostly come from twentieth-century crystal books, built on older folklore. We share them as tradition and for personal meaning, not as health or medical claims.
Zodiac and chakra associations
Crystal writers link calcite with Cancer and Leo, and with the sacral chakra, heart chakra and throat chakra. Lists differ between books, so treat these as starting points.
How to care for calcite
Calcite is soft and dissolves in acid, so keep it away from vinegar and lemon, and never use cleaning sprays on it. Dust it with a dry brush; a brief rinse in plain water is fine if you dry it straight away.
Store it in a soft pouch or a lined box, apart from harder stones such as quartz, which could scratch it.
Choosing calcite
- Look for even colour that suits you; natural calcite varies from piece to piece.
- Ask whether a piece is dyed, treated or reconstituted. Honest sellers say so.
- Pick tumbled stones for carrying, larger pieces for display and set jewellery for wearing.
Good companions
Calcite is often paired with Selenite, Clear quartz and Citrine.
In the shop
We do not stock calcite at the moment. Similar stones in the shop include Selenite, Clear quartz and Citrine.
Similar stones from the shop
Questions answered
What is calcite?
Calcite is calcium carbonate, the mineral that makes up limestone and marble. It is usually almost every colour: orange, honey, green, blue, white and clear.
What does calcite mean?
In modern crystal tradition it is linked with clearing and renewal of energy. This is tradition and belief, not a health claim.
Can calcite go in water?
Best not. Calcite is soft and dissolves in acid, so keep it away from vinegar and lemon, and never use cleaning sprays on it.
Which star signs is calcite linked with?
Cancer and Leo, in modern crystal tradition.
Where does calcite come from?
Mainly Mexico, Brazil, Iceland and many other places.
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