Orange Banded Calcite

Orange Banded Calcite is a decorative calcium-carbonate material recognised by its flowing layers of orange, cream, white, honey and brown. Unlike ordinary Orange Calcite, which may have a more even or cloudy colour, Orange Banded Calcite develops visible layers created by repeated episodes of mineral deposition. These bands commonly form when calcium-rich groundwater, spring water or cave water deposits carbonate minerals over time. Changes in water chemistry, trace elements and iron-rich impurities can produce different colours from one layer to the next. The material is usually dominated by Calcite, although some banded deposits can also contain Aragonite or mixtures of both calcium-carbonate minerals. Orange Banded Calcite is frequently sold commercially under names such as Onyx Calcite, Mexican Onyx or Onyx Marble. These names can be misleading because true Onyx is a form of banded Chalcedony or Quartz rather than calcium carbonate. The warm layered appearance makes Orange Banded Calcite especially popular for spheres, towers, bowls, carvings, decorative objects and polished freeforms.