Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t12.1
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t12.1
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v2.c43.s3.t12.1
Calcite is one of the softest minerals known. Its hardness is three in the Moh’s scale. The corresponding rocks: limestone and (metamorphosed) marble or marmara (in Sanskrit) have been used for various constructional purposes but never as gems. Coral and pearl, organic in origin and largely calcitic in nature, have however been widely used as gems, on account of their beautiful colour and lustre, even though their hardness is slightly below four in the Moh’s scale.