Description

Calcite is a Carbonate mineral that is most widely distributed on the Earth’s surface.  It is a common constituent of sedimentary rocks with Limestone in particular.  A Calcite formation can take on many different shapes and sizes which is dependent on the location, ground water occurrence and temperature.  Calcite is usually white or colorless but can be gray, red, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown or black.  The deeper the color is usually indicative of the definitive impurities from the earth or water.

Sphalerite is a mineral that is the chief ore of Zinc.  It consists mainly of Zinc Sulfide in crystalline form but almost always contains valuable Iron.  When the Iron content is high, it is an opaque black variety called Marmatite.  It is usually found in association with Galena, Pyrite, Calcite, Dolomite and Fluorite.  It is usually yellow, brown or gray to gray-black in color and may have a shiny or dull luster or sheen.