Hydrothermal growth of optical calcite

Abstract

In this paper the experience results of calcite (CaCO₃) growing on seeds parallel to rhombohedron {10 11}, pinacoid {0001} and prismatic {11 20) faces are given. Growing was carried out by the hydrothermal method in the system CaCO₃-NH₄Br-H₂O. Autoclaves (24 1) including titanium inserts were used as equipment. The structure. and optical properties of grown crystals have been investigated with X-ray topography and spectrophotometry. The study the optical inhomogeneity of the calcite synthetic crystals was carried out by means of a special device equipped and by microprobe. The grown crystals are analogous to Iceland spar by their properties but excel them in optical homogeneity.

Key Words:

• Hydrothermal synthesis
• Crystal growth
• Optical properties
• Calcite