noun
- Plural of calcite; crystalline minerals composed of calcium carbonate, commonly found in limestone, marble, and chalk.
Usage: geology; mineralogy
Examples
- The geologist examined several calcites under the microscope to identify their crystal structures.
- Calcites are among the most abundant minerals in Earth's crust.
- The cave formations were composed primarily of calcites deposited over thousands of years.
- Different varieties of calcites can exhibit various colors, from clear to pink or blue.
- Calcites have a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, making them relatively soft minerals.