Mineral phase
IMA name
Vaterite
Secondary names
Calcium carbonate; Ca carbonate
IMA Code
Vtr
Class
non-silicate mineral
Compound type
carbonate
Formula
CaCO3
Chemical formula
CaCO3
Elemental formula
(Ca2+) C O (O-)2
Isotope mixture type
terrestrial abundance
  Formula Name Family Number min-max Isotope mole fraction State Relevance
Ca2+ Calcium cation element 1 constituent cation main
(CO3)2 Carbonate anion chemical function 1 anionic radical main
Chemical functions
  Function Number
(CO3)2 1
Chemical bonds
  Bond Number
Ca2+O 1
CO2/3 3
Oxides
Formula CaO CO2
Mass fraction (%) 56.03 43.97

Strunz

Class
carbonates - nitrates (05)
Division
carbonates without additional anions, without H2O (05.A)
Family
Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates (05.AB)
Code
05.AB.20

Dana

Major class
carbonates, nitrates, borates (V)
Class
anhydrous carbonates (14)
Type
with simple formula A+CO3 (14.01)
Group
Vaterite group (14.01.02)
Code
14.01.02.01
Phase type
crystalline
Crystal system
hexagonal
Crystal class
dihexagonal-dipyramidal
Crystal class symbol
6/mmm (D6h)
Crystal spacegroup
P6(3)/mmc
Molar mass
100.09 g/mol
Density
2.54 g/cm3
State NTP
solid
Refringence type
uniaxial
Refringence sign
positive
Birefringence
0.1000
Refraction index no (w)
1.55
Refraction index ne (e)
1.65
Pure color
colorless
Color
colorless
Diaphaneity
transparent
Luster
waxy