Calcite is indispensable in the construction industry, forming the base of cement. Many important chemicals are created from Calcite, as well as useful drugs. It is also crucial in the manufacture of fertilizers, metals, glass, rubber, and paint. The transparent Iceland Spar variety, in which the double refraction is very apparent, was used as Nicol prisms for polarizing microscopes and other optical devices. Calcite forms rocks that are used for ornamental purposes, such as Marble and banded Travertine or Tufa.
Calcite is also the main component of Chalk, which is processed as drawing chalk.
To collectors, Calcite is one of the best-known and most extensively collected minerals. Calcite that doesn't fluoresce usually becomes fluorescent after heating. Dolomite - transparent clear Dolomite is indistinguishable from Calcite unless complicated optical tests are performed. It can also be distinguished by the fact that Dolomite only effervesces with warm hydrochloric acid, and Calcite even with cold, but accurate results of this test are hard to get. Commonly Occurs With Many minerals, including Fluorite , Apatite , Barite , Albite , Gypsum , Dolomite , Quartz , and Wollastonite .