ARAGONITE.
The Zen Master
Are you feeling a bit like a stressed chicken? Aragonite is the ideal crystal for those under stress, it’s a metaphysical deep breath to help you let go of your anger and frustration. If you are feeling a bit disconnected from yourself and what’s going on around you, Aragonite helps you feel fully present in the here and now. It is elementally connected to the earth and aids in grounding you when your brain is busy worrying about the past or future. It reminds us to be patient with ourselves, it takes time to embed new patterns of thinking and behaviours. Aragonite guides us to let go of any ego to rediscover our equilibrium.
Aragonite is a calcium carbonate mineral that has some seriously interesting formations (see below). It is mainly found in white, yellow or brown colours but it is also found in very pretty green and blue varieties. Under UV light it will also fluoresce. Aragonite has been mined in locations in Europe such as Spain, France, and Slovakia, but also as far afield as Utah, USA and on the seabed in the Bahamas. It was officially named after the village of Molina de Aragón, Spain in 1797 by Abrahan Gottlob Werner where it is found.
Aragonite Formations
Often an overlooked crystal, lacking the bling of Quartz and other silicate-based minerals, Aragonite is a bit of a sleeper agent. You can have two specimens of Aragonite that look so different that you would never guess they were the same mineral. Some of the most common formations:
Sputnik/Starburst: These are orange/brown little clusters with radiating crystals whose terminations are flat-ended. The crystals can be 0.5 - 1 cm in diameter or needle-thin. The needle-thin Star Bursts are the more rare variety.
Stalactite: Often found in caves, stalactite Aragonite forms sometimes with interesting brown, yellow, and white banding when cut through.
Coral: Growing in weird tendrils this form of Aragonite looks very similar to bleached coral. This is often called Cave Calcite and while it is Aragonite, not Calcite they do share the same chemical composition.
Fan: This is a fibrous version of Aragonite, usually formed in masses with “fan” shaped patternation.
Sputnik formation Aragonite, Morocco.
Coral formation Aragonite from Santa Eulalia District, Aquiles Serdan Municipality, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Fibrous fan formation Aragonite, Pakistan. Often sold polished as Caribbean Calcite.
I recently purchased a colour of Aragonite at a mineral fair that I had not encountered before - purple! It seems to be of the Sputnik formation but with one main elongated termination with smaller terminations radiating off it.
Purple Aragonite.
Buyer’s Guide to Aragonite
Private Buyers
As Aragonite formations are so varied you need to consider different factors when buying Aragonite for your collection. Always check for any damage to radiating crystals or coral formations. Aragonite can be fragile so ensure any carved items such as bowls, lamps, or decorative pieces don’t have any areas that are crumbling or have any stress fractures. I’ve seen a bowl and a plate break just by being picked up. Look for a colour you like but in general, a coral formation which is very white or even blue is best.
The brown/orange Sputnik formations should have good strong colour and also no “dusty” finish to the crystals. Any formation in blue/green looks stunning if you can find it. My personal favourite is the coral formation in brilliant white, these can be acquired in quite large sizes for very reasonable prices, making them excellent pieces for interior design or a show stopper on a top-lit shelf. With such a variety of options for collectors, the most obvious solution is to have one of each ;-)
Retail Buyers
If you would like to stock Aragonite in your retail or webshop then the brown/orange Sputnik type crystals sell very well. They are relatively cheap to purchase from Morocco and will retail at about 7-9 EUR. If you are stocking for impressive interior pieces then the white coral formation Aragonite is again a good value wholesale purchase with a good margin for its size.
Quick Guide | Aragonite
Zodiac: Aragonite is associated with the zodiac sign Capricorn.
Ruling Planet: The ruling planet for Aragonite is Earth.
Chakra: Aragonite is associated with the Sacral (Svadhishthana) Chakra helping you tap into your creativity but it's also excellent for clearing blocked Chakras, allowing grounded energy to flow through you.
Element: Aragonite is aligned with the Earth element making it exceptionally grounding.
Crystal Charging: Aragonite should be charged overnight under a full moon. It can also be placed on the earth to discharge any negative energy it has absorbed.
Crystal Elixir: Aragonite should not be used in a crystal elixir as it is a form of calcium carbonate and metallic minerals may leech out over time.
Crystal Care: Aragonite can be cleaned gently with a soft cloth, soft make-up brush or air duster (computer keyboard spray duster). You can give it a very quick wash in cool water but it may degrade if left in water.
The chemical formula for Aragonite: CaCO₃