Mineral Factbook

Iceland spar

Varietyof Calcite

Iceland spar is optically clear calcite. As a variety of Calcite, it shares that species' composition (Ca(CO3)), crystal structure, and hardness; the distinction is the appearance defined above.

Photos

Iceland spar specimen photo
Parent Géry · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Iceland spar specimen photo
Parent Géry · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Iceland spar specimen photo
Parent Géry · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Iceland spar specimen photo
Gunnar Ries · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Commons

About Calcite

Full reference data — crystallography, X-ray diffraction, and cited physical properties — is on the Calcite species page.

FormulaCa(CO3)
Hardness (Mohs)3
Specific gravity2.713
Density (calculated)2.694
Crystal systemtrigonal
Color rangeblack, blue, brown, colorless, gray, green, red, violet, white, yellow
Lusterearthy, vitreous
Streakgray, white