Calcite Beads
Calcite beads are calcium carbonate, the same mineral that makes up limestone and marble, cut from the colored, translucent masses that form in veins and cavities. The colors here include green, yellow, orange, blue and the pale pink of mangano calcite. This collection holds natural calcite in a range of finishes and shapes for bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
Appearance
Green calcite runs from pale sea green to a deeper emerald tone, often with white banding, and yellow and orange calcite range from lemon to a warm honey. Blue calcite is a milky sky blue with white veining, and mangano calcite is soft pink with white swirls. Most calcite is translucent, so light enters the bead and gives the color a waxy depth. Strands vary a good deal in banding and saturation.
A polished finish gives calcite a glassy, almost soapy surface; faceted beads catch light well but show wear on their edges sooner. Calcite is soft, 3 on the Mohs scale, so it scratches easily and should be stored apart from harder stones. It also reacts with acid: vinegar, citrus and some cleaners will etch the surface, and sweat and lotion dull it over time. Take calcite jewelry off before washing, and wipe it with a dry cloth.
Formation and origin
Calcite forms wherever calcium-rich water loses carbon dioxide and drops its dissolved mineral load: in hot springs, cave deposits, sedimentary beds and veins cut through limestone. It is one of the most widespread minerals on earth, and the bead material comes from thick, colored masses rather than from clear crystals. Iron gives the yellow and orange tones, manganese the pink of mangano calcite, and the blue and green colors are tied to trace impurities and inclusions. Bead calcite comes mainly from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Madagascar. Aquatine Lemurian calcite is a trade name for blue calcite from Argentina.
Pairings
Angelite beads: a similar soft blue, and both stones are soft, so they belong together in a strand that is worn gently.
Amazonite beads: blue-green feldspar that matches green and blue calcite in tone and is hard enough to take the wear.
Rose quartz beads: pale pink alongside mangano calcite, with the same milky translucence in a harder stone.
Lore and Meaning
Calcite meaning in crystal traditions varies by color. Green calcite is associated with renewal and the heart chakra, yellow and orange with energy and the solar plexus, blue with calm communication, and mangano pink with compassion and self-acceptance. Calcite as a whole is said to be an amplifier that clears stagnant energy from a space. These are traditional beliefs, not claims of physical effect.
