Inorganic Gemstones

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Aragonite

Rough Aragonite

Aragonite is generally transparent or translucent, and colourless or white when pure. Impurities could cause shades of yellow, blue, pink, or green to happen. It can be found in a variety of habits: small, elongate, prismatic crystals form in radiating groups, and concretions and stalactites will also be common. It's poor cleavage.

Found mainly in sedimentary environments, aragonite may form as tufa (porous rock) in Czechoslovakia and Turkey. Other localities include Spain, Colorado (USA), France and Cumbria (England).


Properties
Chemical Composition: 

Calcium carbonate

Crystal System / Forms: 

Orthorhombic

Hardness: 
3.5
Specific Gravity: 

2.94

Lustre: 
Vitreous
Refractive Index / Birefringence: 

1.53-1.68 / 0.155

Geological Occurrence: 

Sedimentary environments, aragonite may form as tufa (porous rock).

Sources: 

Czechoslovakia, Turkey, Spain, Colorado (USA), France and Cumbria (England).

Cuts & Uses: 

Bead, Polished.

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