Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

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                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

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                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
aragonite


Chemical Group:    carbonate

Chemical Formula:   
CaCO3

Color:  white, gray, yellow, green, pink, red, violet

Streak:  white         Transparency:  transparent to translucent

 

Hardness:  3.5 to 4        Specific Gravity:  2.93 to 2.95

Fracture:  subconchoidal                  Luster:  vitreous to resinous

Cleavage:  two directions

 

Crystal Forms and habits:  Orthorhombic system
     Aragonite is commonly acicular (see cave formations).
     Another common form is a pseudo-hexagonal plate produced by twinning.

Mineral Associations:

Identifying Characteristics:  Fizzes with hydrochloric like calcite

Uses:

Occurrences:  Bisbee, Arizona (acicular) and Ft. Collins, Colorado (hexagonal twins)

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low            when inhaled- low

Additional Information:  Aragonite is less stable than calcite and will often revert to calcite.