Aragonite
aragonite
Calcium carbonate crystallised in the orthorhombic system instead of the trigonal one, which is the only difference between it and calcite and produces an entirely different-looking mineral. It builds coral skeletons, pearls and the spiky rust-red clusters from Moroccan clay. People carry it for grounding, calm and boundaries. Tradition attaches it to the element earth, the root, sacral, solar-plexus chakra, Earth.
Seen · you don't have this one yet
This one does not go in water. It dissolves.
Mineral facts
Hardness
3.5-4 Mohs
Formula
CaCO3 (orthorhombic polymorph)
Family
carbonate
Where it comes from
Morocco, Spain (Molina de Aragón, type locality), Mexico, Namibia, Slovakia, China
What it is
Calcium carbonate crystallised in the orthorhombic system instead of the trigonal one, which is the only difference between it and calcite and produces an entirely different-looking mineral. It builds coral skeletons, pearls and the spiky rust-red clusters from Moroccan clay. Over geological time it usually reverts to calcite.
What it is confused with
calcite-coloured, citrine-heat-treated, vanadinite, orange-selenite, coral
The classic Moroccan form is a spiky radiating cluster, stubby reddish-brown to caramel prisms shooting outward from a common centre in every direction, like a sea urchin or a thrown jack. Crystals are hexagonal-looking in cross-section (actually cyclic twins of an orthorhombic mineral) with rough, slightly chalky faces rather than glassy ones. Other forms are coral-like branching masses or fibrous banded slabs. Chalky-to-vitreous luster, and softer than glass.
How to tell
Fizzes in vinegar like calcite (both are CaCO3), so use the habit: aragonite forms radiating spiky twin clusters and fibrous masses, while calcite cleaves into rhombs. Aragonite is slightly harder (3.5, 4) and shows no rhombohedral cleavage.
Occasionally dyed in pale fibrous forms; the natural Moroccan rust colour is iron staining.
What it means for you
The Moon is at 1° Scorpio today. Aragonite is a carbonate, 3.5-4 on the Mohs scale, and it is the stone traditionally carried when the problem is proximity rather than intensity.
You know what this one would do for you. You just don't have it.
Aragonite for every sign
Aries
The spikes snap in a drawer.
Same chemistry as calcite in a different crystal system, which is enough to make it look like another mineral entirely. The Moroccan clusters shoot rust-red spikes outward from a common centre in every direction at once. Over geological time it reverts to calcite. The spikes snap in a drawer.
Taurus
Over geological time it usually gives in and reverts.
Calcium carbonate crystallised in the orthorhombic system instead of the trigonal one, which is the only difference between it and calcite and produces a completely different-looking mineral. It builds coral skeletons and pearls. Over geological time it usually gives in and reverts.
Gemini
Same chemistry as calcite, arranged differently, unrecognisable.
Aragonite and calcite are the same chemistry in two different crystal systems, and they look nothing alike. This one grows as spiky radiating clusters out of Moroccan clay, and the same mineral builds coral skeletons and pearls. Given geological time it usually gives up and turns into calcite.
Cancer
The carbonate that builds pearls and coral skeletons.
This is the carbonate that builds pearls and coral skeletons, and given enough geological time it usually reverts to calcite anyway. The Moroccan clusters are cyclic twins, stubby prisms shooting outward from one centre. The spikes break if you pack it loose, so give it a box of its own.
Leo
Given enough time, aragonite gives up and becomes calcite.
Two minerals, one formula. Aragonite and calcite are both CaCO3 and differ only in crystal system, which is enough to give you rust-red Moroccan spikes radiating from a centre instead of tidy rhombs. Given enough geological time, aragonite gives up and turns into calcite.
Virgo
The only difference is which system it crystallised in.
Chemically identical to calcite, atom for atom, differing only in crystal system: orthorhombic instead of trigonal. That one difference produces spiky radiating Moroccan clusters rather than neat rhombs. Given geological time it usually reverts to calcite anyway. The spikes snap if you pack it loose.
Libra
Given enough time it gives up and becomes calcite.
Chemically identical to calcite and visually nothing like it, because the atoms stacked orthorhombic instead of trigonal. The Moroccan clusters throw rust-red prisms outward from one centre in every direction at once. Given geological time it gives up and turns back into calcite.
Scorpio
Over geological time it reverts to calcite regardless.
The only difference between this and calcite is which crystal system the calcium carbonate settled into, and that alone produces an entirely different-looking mineral. The rust-red Moroccan clusters are cyclic twins spiking out from one point. Over geological time it reverts to calcite regardless.
Sagittarius
Given time it reverts to calcite.
Calcium carbonate crystallised in the orthorhombic system rather than the trigonal one, which is the only difference from calcite and produces a completely different-looking mineral. The spiky rust-red clusters come from Moroccan clay, named for Molina de Aragon in Spain. Given time it reverts.
Capricorn
Over geological time it gives up and becomes calcite.
Chemically identical to calcite and structurally not, which is the only difference between them and produces an entirely different-looking mineral. The rust-red Moroccan clusters shoot out from one point like a thrown jack and the spikes snap if packed loose. Over geological time it reverts to calcite anyway.
Aquarius
Over geological time it usually gives up and becomes calcite.
Identical chemistry to calcite and a different crystal system, which is the only difference and produces a completely different-looking mineral. The Moroccan clusters shoot rust-red prisms outward from one point in every direction. Over geological time it usually gives up and becomes calcite.
Pisces
The same carbonate that builds coral and pearls.
This is the carbonate that builds coral skeletons and pearls, crystallised in a different system from calcite with identical chemistry. The Moroccan clusters spike outward from one point in rust-red prisms. It dissolves slowly in seawater and, given long enough, becomes calcite instead.
Correspondences
What tradition attaches to this stone. Folklore, not chemistry.
Element
earth
Planet
Earth
Chakra
root, sacral, solar-plexus
Signs
capricorn, taurus, leo
What tradition says
In crystal lore, aragonite is associated with patience, with grounding scattered attention and with the earth element; the radiating form is read as centring.
Care
- Do not put this one in water. It dissolves or spalls. Dust it dry.
- Salt scratches it. Do not bury it in salt.
- A carbonate: acids dissolve it and it slowly dissolves in seawater and salt. Extremely fragile spikes — never pack it loose. Dry brush only.
Common questions
What does aragonite mean?
Aragonite is carried for grounding, calm and boundaries. Calcium carbonate crystallised in the orthorhombic system instead of the trigonal one, which is the only difference between it and calcite and produces an entirely different-looking mineral.. Tradition links it to the root, sacral, solar-plexus chakra.
Is aragonite real or fake?
Aragonite is not faked often, but it is still worth checking. Fizzes in vinegar like calcite (both are CaCO3), so use the habit: aragonite forms radiating spiky twin clusters and fibrous masses, while calcite cleaves into rhombs. Aragonite is slightly harder (3.. Occasionally dyed in pale fibrous forms; the natural Moroccan rust colour is iron staining.
Can aragonite go in water?
No. Aragonite dissolves or spalls in water. Dust it dry instead of soaking it, and keep it out of salt.
Common · rust orange, caramel brown, white, cream, pale blue-green
Where this leads
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FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND REFLECTION. NOT MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. How this works