Calcite Satin Spar
Calcite Satin Spar was the first material to be called Satin Spar, a name now associated with a similar variety of gypsum.
Calcite Satin Spar is a hard fibrous form of calcite which can take an excellent polish to give a fine satiny finish. It was first found in the last years of the 18th century near Alston in Cumbria, England.
For a short while it became a very popular decorative stone, but deposits were worked out by around 1820, and specimens are now very hard to come by.
Calcite Satin Spar is a hard fibrous form of calcite which can take an excellent polish to give a fine satiny finish. It was first found in the last years of the 18th century near Alston in Cumbria, England.
For a short while it became a very popular decorative stone, but deposits were worked out by around 1820, and specimens are now very hard to come by.
| General Information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A variety or type of: | Calcite | |||||
| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Calcite Satin Spar | ||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 3, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.67 to 2.73, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||
| Cleavage Quality | Perfect, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | |||||
| Optical Properties of Calcite Satin Spar | ||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.486 to 1.658, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||
| Optical Character | Uniaxial/-, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||
| Birefringence | 0.172, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||
| Colour | ||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent,Opaque, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||
| Lustre | Vitreous,Resinous, Gemstones (2009) | |||||
| Crystallography of Calcite Satin Spar | ||||||
| Crystal System | Trigonal, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||
| Further Information | ||||||
| Mineral information: | Calcite Satin Spar information at mindat.org | |||||