4.2" Botryoidal Aragonite Cave Calcite Crystal Cluster Mineral Specimen Morocco
Location: Morocco
Weight: 14.1 Ounces
Dimensions: 4.2 Inches Long, 2.8 Inches Wide, 2.8 Inches Wide
The item pictured is the item you will receive
Aragonite plays a crucial role in the existence of many Earth organisms, as it is the mineral most invertebrates depend on to create their shells and hard body parts. When you appreciate the vibrant hues of a seashell, you are also acknowledging the diverse colors Aragonite offers and the mineral’s remarkable ability to form naturally at the Earth's surface.
Aragonite and calcite are polymorphs, meaning they share the same chemical formula but differ slightly in their crystal structures. These minerals frequently appear together and are so alike that distinguishing between them is usually only relevant to professional geologists. Calcite is typically more stable and widespread in today’s ocean chemistry, although in certain periods of Earth’s history, aragonite was the more stable and predominant mineral. Both minerals have nearly the same physical characteristics.
Calcite is a calcium carbonate mineral with a hardness rating of 3. It appears in many shapes and colors and is present on every continent. This mineral constitutes the primary component of both marble and limestone. Yellow calcite typically forms in massive shapes rather than crystals, with some of the finest examples originating from Mexico.
Calcite gets its name from the Greek word “chalix,” meaning lime. It comes in a wide variety of colors, including red, green, orange, yellow, blue, pink, clear, black, and white. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth, making up the basis of limestone and marble. It takes many different forms and is formed in many different geological environments. Some forms fluoresce blue or red under UV light. It has been used to make cement and mortar, and very clear translucent calcite has been used to make gun sights and geological (polarizing) microscopes.
