Comparison · Minerals
Calcite vs Cavansite
Calcite and Cavansite are easy to confuse because both are minerals. Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Below is a side-by-side comparison of their properties and the quick tests that separate them.
Key differences between Calcite and Cavansite
- Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
- Streak color differs: Calcite leaves a white streak on unglazed porcelain, Cavansite leaves pale blue.
- Hold a thin edge to the light: Calcite is transparent, Cavansite is Transparent to translucent.
- They overlap in blue, but Calcite also comes in clear, yellow, orange, green, and pink.
- Well-formed crystals give it away: Calcite is trigonal, Cavansite is Orthorhombic.
Calcite vs Cavansite properties
| Property | Calcite | Cavansite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Minerals | Minerals |
| Mohs hardness | 3 | 3–4 |
| Luster | vitreous | Vitreous |
| Streak | White | Pale blue |
| Transparency | transparent | Transparent to translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.7 | 2.21–2.31 |
| Crystal system | trigonal | Orthorhombic |
| Common colors | Colorless, White, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green, Pink | Bright blue, Deep blue |
| Rarity | common | common |
| Typical specimen value | $2–$100+ | $2–$150+ |
Which is more valuable?
Cavansite is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $20 against $15 for Calcite, and premium Cavansite can reach $150 or more.
About Calcite
Calcite is one of the most common minerals on Earth, found in sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. It's the primary component of limestone and marble.
About Cavansite
Cavansite is a rare hydrous calcium vanadium silicate, Ca(VO)Si4O10 4H2O, notable for an intense, almost electric blue color rarely matched by other minerals. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, typically as radiating clusters of thin blades lining cavities in basalt. First described in 1967, it remains one of the few common minerals containing vanadium as an essential structural element.
Calcite vs Cavansite FAQ
Is Calcite the same as Cavansite?
No. Both are minerals, but they are distinct species with different hardness, streak or luster. Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
How can you tell Calcite from Cavansite?
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Streak color differs: Calcite leaves a white streak on unglazed porcelain, Cavansite leaves pale blue. Hold a thin edge to the light: Calcite is transparent, Cavansite is Transparent to translucent.
Which is harder, Calcite or Cavansite?
Cavansite is harder: Mohs 3–4 against Mohs 3 for Calcite.
Which is more valuable, Calcite or Cavansite?
Cavansite is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $20 against $15 for Calcite, and premium Cavansite can reach $150 or more.
