Aragonite is a carbonate mineral and one of the three most common naturally occurring crystal forms of calcium carbonate, the others being calcite and vaterite. It is formed by biological and physical processes, including precipitation from marine and freshwater environments. Its crystal lattice differs from that of calcite, giving an orthorhombic crystal system with acicular crystals, and repeated twinning produces pseudo-hexagonal forms. In this atlas it is the mineral species behind aragonite gemstones and ornamental stones, kept apart from calcite because the two share a formula but not a structure.
Facts
Chemical Formula Hardness (Mohs)Commonly cited range is 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale; 3.75, the midpoint, is used here. Classification
Crystal System Classification UseSculpture and Ornamental 2 Connections
Classified As
Crystallizes In System
In Discipline
In the Other Atlases
Mineral Species Of
Also in Divinity Atlas: of this mineral species.
Also in Divinity Atlas: of this mineral species.
Also in Divinity Atlas: of this mineral species.
Also in Divinity Atlas: of this mineral species.
Sources
1. Aragonite (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAragonite, lead paragraph
Aragonite is a carbonate mineral and one of the three most common naturally occurring crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the others being calcite and vaterite.
Aragonite, article text
an orthorhombic crystal system with acicular crystal
View the Source 2. minerals.net: Aragonite
minerals.netUsesQuote, Uses
is sometimes carved into ornamental objects
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