occurs
in veins with other tellurides, associated with gold ores in Calaveras
Co., California, from which it takes its name. It is also mined with
other tellurides in Boulder County and Cripple Creek, Colorado, as an
ore of Gold.
Calciovolborthite: Vanadate.
Composition uncertain. This mineral occurs in two varieties: green in
thin tables cleaving easily in one direction, greenish-yellow in streak
and pearly in luster; also gray, fine crystalline, granular,
brownish-yellow in streak. It occurs in Freidrichsrode, Thuringia, in
the United States, at Neurita and Montrose, Colorado, and Richardson,
Arizona.
Calcite: Calcium
Carbonate. Carbon Dioxide 44%, Lime 56%. This is one of the most
beautifully crystallized minerals known, and next to Quartz, the
commonest. The varieties are very numerous and diverse in appearance.
The transparent variety from Iceland, used for polarizing prisms, is
called Iceland Spar. On account of its strong double refraction, it is
employed in optical instruments, and in many ways has been a servant of
science. Its perfect cleavage pieces and strong double refraction led
Bartholi-nus and Huygens to the discovery of double refraction, and
later, Malus to the discovery of polarized light. A silky fibrous
variety is called Satin Spar, and Ruin Marble is a variety of yellow to
brown calcite, showing when polished, figures resembling somewhat,
fortifications, temples, etc. in ruins. Puddingstone is a variety with
pebbles or small stones enclosed.
Calcite
has many important uses, but the chief one is in the manufacture of
cements and lime, and as an ingredient in glass making. Calcite rocks
are used as building and ornamental stones, and when very white and of
even texture, it is used by sculptors as statuary marble. It is found
in Saxony, Hungary, Piedmont, England, Mexico, Yellowstone National
Park, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, etc.
Californite: A
white, green or gray variety of Vesuvianite, occurring in finely
granular masses resembling Jade. It is used as a gem stone, and for
small ornaments in the
cheaper lines of jewelry.
Camallite: Hydrated
double Chloride. It occurs in distinct crystals but more frequently in
massive granular aggregates. It is colorless to milky-white, although
many varieties appear, in small specimens, to be red, on account of
inclusions of Hematite or Goethite; also yellow because of inclusions
of yellow
