Aragonito Azul (Toralina)
Aragonito is a mineral with formula CaCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Mina Antonina, Toral de los Vados, León, Castilla y León, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2002.
Description
Botryoidal, radiating aggregate, pale blue to white, with a well-defined fibrous-radial texture and a gradual transition of tones. Concentric banding is prominent, with a vitreous to nacreous lustre.
History of this specimen
Hand-extracted by the local pickers Toño, Juan, Bernardo, Rubén and Pregal at Mina Antonina, now inactive and worked as an aggregate quarry (Sta. Bárbara).
About Aragonito
An iconic El Bierzo piece, known as "Toralina". The name "aragonite" refers to the type locality: Molina de Aragón (Guadalajara). "Toralina" is an unofficial local designation for bluish aragonite from Toral de los Vados. Its colour may be linked to rosasite inclusions or copper impurities. It commonly forms by precipitation in hydrothermal environments and is relatively common in cavities of carbonate rocks.
About the locality
Mina Antonina, now inactive, was one of the classic localities for blue aragonite in El Bierzo. Worked initially as a mine and later as a quarry, it is today known as Cantera Santa Bárbara. For years, local pickers extracted notable specimens that gained prestige at fairs and in private collections. Access today is highly restricted.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0042
- Composition
- CaCO₃
- Name
- Aragonito
- Variety
- Azul (Toralina)
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Meritum Persé
- Mine
- Mina Antonina
- District / Municipality
- Toral de los Vados
- Province
- León
- Region
- Castilla y León
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 17 x 12
- Weight
- 540 g
- Acquired
- 2002
- Ex-collection
- Boran
- Etymology
- Toralina, derived from Toral de los Vados (León), used by local collectors and pickers.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Analcima — España
- Analcima — España