Aragonite - an unusual gemstone, its properties and varieties

What is a mineral

The mineral aragonite is a modification of calcium carbonate. Its chemical formula is similar to calcite, and the exact composition is determined by impurities. For example, the dominance of iron creates a yellow mineral. Zinc provides a red-brown-violet color palette.

The mother-of-pearl layer of sea shell valves is made of aragonite. It builds up in layers, forming a pearl inside the mollusk.

The origin of the mineral is recognized by its outline: round or other smooth samples are a product of the sea. Sharp crystals, hexagonal prisms, “twigs”, “flowers” ​​are formed in caves, like deposits of carbonate dissolved in water. They are also known as stalactites.

Aragonite crystals

The fragility of the mineral was noted by the first stone cutters. Trying to improve aesthetic conditions, they heated aragonite. But instead of improvement, they received calcite powder: the increase in volume destroyed the crystalline structure.

Properties of the mineral aragonite (video)

There are several types of aragonite:

1. Needle-shaped crystals are elongated, transparent polyhedra or needles.
2. Helictites can be found in karst caves. They look like coral-shaped crystals growing in different directions. They spontaneously bend and disperse.
3. Pisolites – also called cave pearls, are aragonite bodies of a rounded shape, slightly more than 2 mm in diameter. Referred to as oolites.
4. “Iron Flowers” ​​are tangled and radially branched stones of extraordinary beauty. Highly prized by collectors.
5. The peculiar and unique “White Sea flyers” are pseudomorphs of aragonite on celestite in the shape of a star with four rays.
6. Sea pearls and shells get their nacre from the formation of a thin layer of aragonite - conchite and organic matter.

History of aragonite

The origin of the mineral is ordinary and romantic at the same time.

The science

Aragonite forms in cool karst caves, other voids, and at the bottom of rivers or oceans.

Another place is geysers and other springs, the water of which is saturated with carbonate compounds. The most striking examples are the waters of Baden-Baden and Karlovy Vary. The calcite film on their surface allows you to turn any object immersed in water for a few minutes into a “mother-of-pearl” jewel.

Legend

The popular name for aragonite is the stone of tears. According to legend, the tears of a girl who was separated from her lover became pebbles. A drama took place in the Spanish city of Molina (province of Aragon).

Based on the name of the area where deposits were discovered at the end of the 18th century, the stone was also christened - it became aragonite. In fact, it was not Aragon, but neighboring Castile, but they did not change the name.

Aragonites are never older than 10 million years: the crystal lattice degenerates, turning the mineral into ordinary calcite.

What kind of stone?

This mineral was first discovered in Spain in the small town of Molina de Aragon. Its origin is associated with a romantic story about two lovers who, due to fate, could not be together.

According to old legends, a young man fell in love with a girl. The same feelings came over her. When the young man came to get married, his parents rejected his proposal. To quickly protect their daughter from an unwanted lover, they married her to a local rich man. Thus the connection between the lovers was severed forever. Every day the girl shed tears that turned into precious stones.

This is how Aragonite appeared. They named it after the area where it was found.

Place of Birth

Aragonite is found wherever there are karst caves:

• The best material is mined in Spain, Sicily, and Morocco.
• The USA, Japan, and Asian countries (Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan) have reserves of the mineral. Russian deposits are concentrated in Taimyr and the Southern Urals. This is more of a collectible item.
• Instances from different places have their own colors. For example, Mexico supplies colorless and white, China supplies blue tseringites (one of the most aesthetic and expensive varieties).

However, the main deposits of the mineral are accumulated on the ocean floor.

Varieties of aragonite

Aragonite is classified according to the place of formation, shape, and color. Main types of stone:

• Heliclitus. “Coral” twigs and similar branched formations. There are specimens from milky white to black.
• Iglit. Blue-green prism crystals.
• Pisolite. It is formed in caves as a result of calcium precipitation from aqueous solutions. Recognized by its ball shape. Valued by jewelers as an insert for rings, earrings, beads, and bracelets. Other names are marble onyx, cave pearls, caviar stone.

Aragonite “roses” are the official symbol of the Czech resort city of Karlovy Vary.

Knowledgeable people appreciate aragonite “flowers”, pea-shaped pisolites, and other bizarre mineral formations.

Color varieties

The color of aragonite stone depends on the chemical additives in its composition and its natural shape.

The variety of gemstone shapes is amazing. The rounded small nuggets are referred to as "cave pearls." Stones of unusual configurations, similar to plants, were called “iron flowers.” Needle-shaped crystals are found in nature. In appearance, helictites are similar to corals.

In the form of a delicate mother-of-pearl coating, it is found on shell valves and enters into the structure of the pearl.

Where is the mineral used?

The characteristic of the mineral as fragile and difficult to process did not become an obstacle to its use. Colorfully rich aragonite is in demand by jewelers, stone-cutters, and collectors.

Everyone has a reason to love the mineral aragonite:

• Jewelers produce an assortment of jewelry, including bracelets and ring inserts. The frame chosen is noble: silver, gold, platinum. Blue aragonite is often indistinguishable from turquoise, and well-polished polka dots imitate elite pearls.
• Stone cutters carve balls, pyramids, and other figures. There are larger things - boxes, desk writing instruments, photo frames.
• Each specimen makes collectors happy: the uniqueness of color and shape makes it unique.

Pendant with aragonite
At the same time, the price of the mineral is affordable, even from distant corners of the planet.

Compatibility with other stones

Gems always have a certain energy, combining and not combining with each other. Sometimes warnings about the incompatibility of stones are also related to their physical characteristics - some minerals have a destructive effect on more fragile gems.

Aragonite is quite friendly and does not come into direct conflict with other minerals. But it should not be worn with mother-of-pearl and “burning” stones from the inside, which have powerful energy: diamonds, garnet, topaz, spinel. It is also advisable to avoid heavy representatives - black agate, hematite, obsidian.

Ideal compatibility is ensured by such expensive gems as emerald, sapphire, alexandrite, aquamarine, as well as carnelian and turquoise. You should not combine aragonite with fire stones; all other options are suitable.

The jewelry can be framed in noble metals - silver, gold (preferably white) and platinum, or you can create jewelry from minerals without metal elements.

Rules for wearing and care

Aragonite is delicate: it is afraid of mechanical influences, aggressive household chemicals, direct sunlight, and heat.

It needs careful care:

• Dust is wiped off with a dry soft cloth. Serious stains can be easily cleaned with soapy water and a cloth (you can pre-soak for a few minutes and rub). Then rinse clean. When cleaning jewelry frames, protect the inserts or make sure that the cleaning agent does not get on them.
• Jewelry is removed before washing dishes and similar household chores, going to the pool, sauna, or the beach.
• Put on rings, necklaces, earrings after applying makeup, when cream, varnish, and other cosmetic substances have been absorbed or dried.
• Jewelry is stored in a dark, tightly closed box, lined with soft fabric on the inside. It is better to select a separate box or cell.

Figurines or other aragonite specimens should not be placed near radiators, stoves, or other heat sources. The heat will cause the mineral to crumble or turn into ordinary calcite. His magic will be gone.

Caring for aragonite products

Take special care of your aragonite products.

Aragonite jewelry requires careful handling. This is a fragile stone and therefore easy to damage. In order not to regret the broken amulet and the money spent, handle aragonite with caution:

• Try to protect your jewelry from accidental impacts on the street. If it is a ring or bracelet, remove it before entering a vehicle to avoid slamming on the handrails. At home, you shouldn’t let your guard down either. Do not hang the pendant on a hook in the bathroom, but place it on a special stand or hide it in a shelf - this will protect the pendant from falling to the floor.
• Aragonite scratches very easily, so it is best not to store it with other jewelry. Find another box for the talisman or at least a bag made of thick fabric. By the way, by hiding the pebble in an additional case, you can keep it in a common box, because this way it will be protected from accidental mechanical impact.
• When cleaning dirt, do not use harsh chemicals. Some chemicals contain hydrochloric acid, which is destructive to the mineral. The brine causes it to almost literally boil.

The mineral is most widely used in the jewelry industry. But they also use it when decorating rooms. In this case, it should be taken into account that the gem should not be placed next to heating devices and other heat sources. Such an impact will harm the stone.

How to identify a fake

The price of aragonite is affordable, but it is counterfeited. Instead of natural mineral, glass or plastic is offered.

The following methods help distinguish a mineral from a fake:

1. Hold it in your hands. Glass or plastic will heat up immediately, unlike natural mineral.
2. Estimate weight: natural stone is always heavy.
3. Take it out into the sun or put it under ultraviolet light. Natural aragonite will glow orangeish-reddish.

It is better to buy jewelry or figurines from trusted sellers.

Manufacture maintenance rules

Proper maintenance of your jewelry can help keep your gemstones sparkling for a long time.

In most cases, they do not prefer dazzling sunlight: they become pale. For this reason, it is necessary to store the product from it in a dark room, separately from other precious stones. The perfect type is a casket or box filled with soft fabric from the inside. The place of detention should be at a far distance from heat. There is no need to overlook the fact that high temperatures are detrimental to aragonite.

He is afraid of unconscious defects, for this reason you should remove it properly before going to the gym if you want to do any work related to physical activity.

Price

According to the jewelry classification, aragonite is a semi-precious (lower segment) or ornamental stone. This circumstance, plus its prevalence and ease of extraction, determined the availability of prices for the mineral (rubles):

• crystals (7.5x6x5.5 cm) – 2,550-2,800;
• ball (4.8-6.3 cm) – 1,700 – 3,560;
• egg (3x4-4x5 cm) – 820-1,240;
• white tumbling (2–3 cm) – 240–290;
• crystal intergrowths (3–4 cm) – 380–650.

The price is also determined by the deposit and type of mineral. For example, a sample of sky-blue vanadium aragonite from Morocco (size S, that is, 5–7 cm and weighing 14 g) costs RUR 5,890.

Average cost of products (RUB):

• earrings – 600–780;
• rosary (onyx+aragonite) – 1,970;
• white bracelet (diameter 14 mm, Mexico) – 1,090;
• white beads (14 mm, Mexico) – 2,490;
• silver ring – 860–2360;
• gold ring with aragonite – 7,900-21,300.

Ring with aragonite
The price of jewelry made of aragonite depends more on the material of the frame: the cost of gold and silver accessories with similar inserts differs by an order of magnitude.

Application

Calcite is highly valued in the jewelry industry and is classified as precious. Not only jewelry is made from stones, but also decorative items such as boxes, candelabra and simple candlesticks, ashtrays, and vases. It is valued as a collectible stone due to its natural diversity of shapes and colors.

Sprudelstein (another name for pink aragonite) is another type of valuable rock - used as jewelry inserts and a suitable material for making beads, pendants, rings, earrings and bracelets. In addition, the breed has found wide application in icon embroidery. Pearls made from the substance aragonite are regarded as a precious representative belonging to the first class.

Therapeutic effect

Lithotherapeutic practitioners have identified the following properties of aragonite:

1. The mineral has a complex effect on the human nervous system: anxiety, aggressiveness, and depression disappear.
2. As a result, the immune system and overall physical health are strengthened.
3. Lotions made from moist aragonite powder help with skin problems that cannot be treated due to an unknown origin.
4. The mineral treats joints and diseases of the spine. Prevents cramps and spasms.
5. Aragonite strengthens and makes nails and hair beautiful.
6. Helps with fevers, heat, internal inflammation.
7. The mineral is suitable for older people: it alleviates the symptoms of menopause, dementia, and nervousness.
8. The mineral has a beneficial effect on the sexual sphere: men and women become more liberated. At the same time, female frigidity is neutralized and male potency is strengthened.

The miraculous properties of the waters of German Baden-Baden or Czech Karlovy Vary are also the merit of aragonite. Local healing springs are literally saturated with it.

But any clean water can be made like this (or almost like this): it is enough to filter it through a layer of crushed mineral.

To achieve a healing effect, lotions, drinking charged water or wearing jewelry with aragonite in silver are suitable.

Magic properties

The magical properties of aragonite are in demand by practicing sorcerers and other esotericists. They calculated that the mineral perfectly concentrates and grounds energy and balances the energy of the human body.

Therefore, the mineral is used as a channel of communication with the other world, an amplifier of the effect of meditation or prayer.

Earrings with aragonite

The mission of aragonite at the everyday level is to preserve, strengthen the hearth and family foundations:

• There will always be agreement between spouses, representatives of different generations of the family (children-parents) if one of them wears a pendant, bracelet or other jewelry with aragonite.
• A mineral amulet is placed in the bedroom if the spouses have sexual problems or intend to become parents.
• It will help teenagers and middle-aged people survive age-related disasters.
• Figurines, druses of crystals, and other aragonite fragments, placed in a prominent place, will attract a financial river into the house.
• Everyday household routine will seem easier with a figurine or a pebble in the kitchen. Even a novice housewife will feel more confident.

Any aragonite talisman is important as a means of preserving the family hearth.

But for lonely people, the mineral will only cause harm: they will feel defective, unhappy, and unclaimed.

Extraordinary Features

Aragonite is a constant companion of healers and miracle workers, promoting the presence of spiritualism procedures, communication with unearthly forces, since it is believed that it is ideally grounded and focused on activity. Can increase the process of prayer or magic spells.

• These crystals give humility, true calm and inner stability, promote reflection, and balance various activities in the human body.
• Aragonite is the true holder of the marital hearth, spreading its own magic only for the family. It is advisable to leave your figurines or fakes at home to attract wealth, convenience and good luck to the family.
• Such a solid body will help spouses maintain joint emotions, attract attraction in refreshing connections, and destroy differences and hostile thoughts.
• Accordingly, it can help open a connection between the older and younger generations, it is combined in the absence of family disputes, restoring peace and equanimity.
• Helps increase financial family wealth, free from need.
• Frees careless owners from apathy, helping to implement the household, filling the house with warmth and comfort.
• Helps to perceive moral and family virtues.
• These amulets are ready to prevent alcoholism, betrayal and other shortcomings.

Aragonite and Zodiac

Astrologers claim that according to the horoscope, the mineral is suitable for all signs of the Zodiac.

Compatibility table of aragonite with zodiac signs (“+++” – fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated).

But only if the person is a family man. Civil marriage or officially registered does not matter.