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natural history page title
Identifying rocks, minerals and fossils

Introduction
What is a rock?
What is a mineral?
What is a fossil?
Rock, mineral or 
    fossil?

Rock key

Mineral key
    Unknown 
       
mineral

    Dark mineral 
        key

    Biotite
    Pyrite
    Unknown dark 
        mineral

    Light mineral 
        key

    Calcite
    Quartz
    Unknown light 
        mineral


Fossil key
Helpful Books

  
Calcite
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image of calcite crystals

Your specimen is probably a piece of calcite. Calcite is usually a white or colourless mineral with crystals that are sometimes shaped like dog's teeth (hence the alternative name dog tooth spar). However the crystals can take lots of different forms and the colour is very variable. 
Two particular features can help to identify calcite.
When rubbed against an unglazed piece of pottery it leaves a white streak and it fizzes when dilute hydrochloric acid is dropped onto it.
Calcite is a very common mineral formed in a wide variety of geological situations and can be found throughout the world. Some particularly well formed crystals have been found in Derbyshire during mining. Calcite is used extensively in the construction industry to produce cement.