Aragonite, the Mineral With a Patriotic Name

    
     Aragonite is named for the Spanish province of Aragon. Aragonite crystals can be fibrous, acicular (needle-like) or prismatic, but they often display what is known as crystal twinning. Crystal twinning is a mineral phenomenon in which crystals grow together and sometimes appear as one. In the case of aragonite these crystals can form as columns or large needles that radiate from their base. Aragonite can also form as stalactites. As is the case in many mineral types aragonite is clear when pure, but impurities can cause it to become yellow, blue, pink, green, brown, orange, and rarely purple. Aragonite can be confused with the mineral calcite, but it can be easily distinguished by its greater specific gravity. The specific gravity loosely defined is the ratio of a mineral’s weight to its size. Minerals with a higher specific gravity feel heavy for their size. So a piece of calcite will weigh less than a piece of aragonite that is the same size.
     Aragonite has some use in jewelry, but due to aragonite’s softness this use is limited. Aragonite is used to make beads and small carvings. Aragonite is sometimes polished though I cannot elaborate on what it looks like polished because I have never seen it. However, I have seen a polished slice of an aragonite stalactite that was quite pretty. The picture that I saw had alternating layers of white, yellow, brown, and orange. The layers were uneven and looked as if they had been folded. Aragonite is also used in the making of cement and in glass-making applications. Aragonite is composed of a chemical that is called calcium carbonate, which is used to neutralize acid in industry. Aragonite is also used to make calcium-rich fertilizers for agriculture, animal feed, and white pigments.
     Aragonite is found in many places, but I personally doubt that any source can be considered more famous that that of Aragon, Spain. Aragonite is also found throughout the western Mediterranean region, England, Colorado, Mexico, Russia, the Czech Republic, and Australia. Though I did not come across this source an any of the books that I read I have known New Mexico to be a good source.
     Aragonite is certainly a captivating mineral and I am glad to have learned so much about it. Also aragonite inspires the idea of naming a mineral that one discovers after the region in which he or she lives. If ever you come across a blog about the mineral michiganite, you’ll known that I’ve done just that!