INDEX DATA

• Transparency Range: 350nm - 2300nm, See Transparency Curve
• Particle Shape: Crystalline Rhombohedral
• CaCO3 content: 99.94%
• Density: 2.710 g/cm³
• Mohs Hardness: 3.10
• Luminousness: UV³ 72% VL³ 85% IR³ 88%
• Hygroscopic Susceptibility: low susceptibility to moisture
• Thermal Expansion Coefficient: a_a =24.39 x 10^-6/K; a_c = 5.68 x 10^-6/K
• Crystal Class: negative uniaxial with n_o=n_a=n_b, n_e=n

Transparency Curve of Calcite

• Refractive Indices, Birefringence (Dn = n_e - n_o) and Walk-off Angle at 45° (r):
  1). n_o = 1.71425, n_e = 1.51140, Dn = -0.20285,  r = 6.20° at 0.312 mm
  2). n_o = 1.63457, n_e = 1.47744, Dn = -0.15713, r = 6.32° at 1.497 mm
• Sellmeier Equation(l in mm):
  1). n_o² = 2.69705 + 0.0192064/(l² - 0.01820) - 0.0151624l²
  2). n_e² = 2.18438 + 0.0087309/(l² - 0.01018) - 0.0024411l²

Mostly used in the national defense industry and the special optical components or instrument manufacture. The Calcite Crystal is very suitable material that is used to make polarizers, polarizing prisms and other optical polarizing components. Because of calcite's softness, it should be used in jewelry only where it won't be subject to abuse, and great care should be taken with any calcite specimen.