Carbonate Minerals
Carbonate minerals contain the carbonate ion and share one giveaway test: they fizz in dilute acid. Calcite and dolomite make up limestone and marble, while malachite, azurite and rhodochrosite are prized collector carbonates.
Mohs hardness in this group runs from 3.75 to 4.5.
All carbonate minerals (4)
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common carbonate minerals?
The most searched carbonate minerals in the StoneSnap database are Magnesite, Rhodochrosite, Siderite, and Smithsonite.
How do you identify carbonate minerals?
Start with luster and color, then bracket the Mohs hardness with a scratch test and check the streak on unglazed porcelain. Mohs hardness in this group runs from 3.75 to 4.5. Each entry below lists the diagnostic properties and its common look-alikes.
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