2.6" Aragonite Cave Calcite Crystal Cluster Mineral Specimen 3.1 OZ Morocco

Location: Morocco

Weight: 3.1 Ounces

Dimensions: 2.6 Inches Long, 1.7 Inches Wide, 1.3 Inches Wide

The item pictured is the item you will receive 

Aragonite plays a crucial role in the existence of many of Earth’s organisms, particularly invertebrates that rely on it to build their shells and skeletal structures. The vivid colors of seashells are a testament to the diverse hues of Aragonite and its ability to form readily at Earth’s surface. Aragonite and calcite are polymorphs, sharing the same chemical composition but differing slightly in their crystal lattices. These minerals often coexist and exhibit such close similarities that only a trained paleontologist or geologist can typically differentiate between them. While calcite is currently the more stable and abundant mineral in today’s ocean chemistry, Aragonite was once more prevalent during different geological periods. Physically, both minerals are nearly indistinguishable.

Calcite is a calcium carbonate mineral with a hardness of 3. It comes in a wide variety of forms and colors and is found on every continent of the world. Calcite makes up the major part of marble and limestone. Yellow Calcite usually occurs in massive rather than crystalline form, and the best specimens come from Mexico.

Calcite’s name comes from the Greek word “chalix,” which means lime—pretty fitting! This mineral loves to show off in an array of colors like red, green, orange, yellow, blue, pink, clear, black, and white. It’s one of Earth’s most common minerals, forming the backbone of limestone and marble. Calcite comes in all sorts of shapes and pops up in a bunch of geological settings. Some even glow blue or red under UV light—nature’s little light show! Beyond looking cool, it’s been used in cement and mortar, and the clearest pieces have helped make gun sights and those fancy geological microscopes.