Comparison · Minerals
Calcite vs Cryolite
Calcite and Cryolite 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 Cryolite
- Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
- Hold a thin edge to the light: Calcite is transparent, Cryolite is Transparent to translucent.
- They overlap in clear, but Calcite also comes in yellow, orange, blue, green, and pink and Cryolite also comes in brown and red.
- Well-formed crystals give it away: Calcite is trigonal, Cryolite is Monoclinic.
Calcite vs Cryolite properties
| Property | Calcite | Cryolite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Minerals | Minerals |
| Mohs hardness | 3 | 2.5–3 |
| Luster | vitreous | Vitreous to greasy or pearly |
| Streak | White | White |
| Transparency | transparent | Transparent to translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.7 | 2.95–3.0 |
| Crystal system | trigonal | Monoclinic |
| Common colors | Colorless, White, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green, Pink | Colorless, White, Brownish, Reddish |
| Rarity | common | common |
| Typical specimen value | $2–$100+ | $2–$150+ |
Which is more valuable?
Cryolite is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $20 against $15 for Calcite, and premium Cryolite 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 Cryolite
Cryolite is a rare sodium aluminum fluoride mineral, Na3AlF6, historically significant as a flux in the industrial extraction of aluminum metal from bauxite ore. It is best known from a single massive deposit at Ivigtut, Greenland, which was, until its exhaustion, essentially the only commercially significant source on Earth. Its name comes from the Greek for "ice stone," reflecting its unusual property of becoming nearly invisible when submerged in water due to a refractive index close to that of water itself.
Calcite vs Cryolite FAQ
Is Calcite the same as Cryolite?
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 Cryolite?
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Hold a thin edge to the light: Calcite is transparent, Cryolite is Transparent to translucent. They overlap in clear, but Calcite also comes in yellow, orange, blue, green, and pink and Cryolite also comes in brown and red.
Which is harder, Calcite or Cryolite?
They are about equally hard, both near Mohs 3.
Which is more valuable, Calcite or Cryolite?
Cryolite is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $20 against $15 for Calcite, and premium Cryolite can reach $150 or more.
