Aragonite Mineral Data

Aragonite Mineral Data +

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General Aragonite Information

Chemical Formula:

CaCO3

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 100.09 gm

Calcium 40.04 % Ca 56.03 % CaO

Carbon 12.00 % C 43.97 % CO₂

Oxygen 47.96 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Ca(CO₃)

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1790

Locality:

Aragon (Spain). Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after its locality.

Synonym:

ICSD 15194

Nicolsonite (Zn)

PDF 41-1475

Tarnowitzite (Pb)

Aragonite Image

Images:

Aragonite

Comments: Clear, crystalline aragonite prism.
Location: Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia. Scale: Size Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Aragonite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.6223:1:0.7205

Cell Dimensions:

a = 4.959, b = 7.968, c = 5.741, Z = 4; V = 226.85 Den(Calc)= 2.93

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pmcn

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.396(1), 1.977(0.65), 3.273(0.52),

Forms:

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Crystal Structure:

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de Villiers J P R , American Mineralogist , 56 (1971) p.758-767, Crystal structures of aragonite, strontianite, and witherite

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Aragonite
[1]

Physical Properties of Aragonite

Cleavage:

[010] Distinct

Color:

Colorless, White, Gray, Yellowish white, Reddish white.

Density:

2.93

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

Sub Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.

Habit:

Columnar - Forms columns

Habit:

Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers.

Habit:

Pseudo Hexagonal - Crystals show a hexagonal outline.

Hardness:

3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Aragonite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.025 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.025 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2157,KPDmeas= 0.2157,KC= 0.2104

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.529-1.53, b=1.68-1.682, g=1.685-1.686, bire=0.1560, 2V(Calc)=16-18, 2V(Meas)=18-19. Dispersion weak, r < v.

Pleochroism (x):

no.

Calculated Properties of Aragonite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.93 gm/cc
note: r_Aragonite=2.93 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00209
Boson Index = 0.99791

Photoelectric:

PE_Aragonite= 5.06 barns/electron
U=PE_Aragonite x r_electron= 14.81 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Aragonite is Not Radioactive

Aragonite Classification

Dana Class:

14.1.3.1 (14)Anhydrous Carbonates

(14.1)with Simple Formula A+ CO3

(14.1.3)Aragonite Group (Orthorhombic: Pmcn)

14.1.3.1 Aragonite CaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.1.3.2 Witherite BaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.1.3.3 Strontianite SrCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.1.3.4 Cerussite PbCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

V/B.04-10 V - Nitrates, Carbonates and Borates

V/B - Waterfree carbonates [CO3]2- without unfamiliar anions

V/B.04 - Aragonite group

V/B.04-10 Aragonite CaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.04-20 Strontianite SrCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.04-30 Witherite BaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.04-40 Cerussite PbCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.04-50 Alstonite BaCa(CO3)2 P1 or P1 Tri

V/B.04-60 Barytocalcite BaCa(CO3)2 P 2₁ 2

V/B.04-65 Olekminskite Sr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2 P 3₂1 3 2

V/B.04-70 Paralstonite BaCa(CO3)2 P 3₂1 3 2

Other Aragonite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Heinrich65)

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Aragonite

CaCO3
Dana No: 14.1.3.1 Strunz No: V/B.04-10
Locality:

Notes: