Aragonito Pantojo
Aragonito is a mineral with formula CaCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Pantoja, Pantoja, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2009.
Description
Large spray of Pantoja aragonite, showing its typical fluorescence and phosphorescence.
About Aragonito
Calcium carbonate that crystallises in the orthorhombic system. In Pantoja it occurs as radiating aggregates within fissures of clayey limestones, where calcium- and carbon dioxide-rich solutions precipitate slowly.
About the locality
Pantoja (Toledo) became well known in the 1980s and 1990s for aragonite in highly aesthetic radial sprays, with colours ranging from amber to honey and very intense blue-green fluorescence under UV light. They were found in small cavities within marly limestones, in a quarry near the village (now inactive and partially rehabilitated). These specimens circulated at local and regional fairs—Madrid, Torrejón, La Unión, even Expominer in Barcelona—for two decades, and were common in the boxes of dealers and field collectors from Castilla-La Mancha. Today a few still appear, but in decreasing numbers.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0250
- Composition
- CaCO₃
- Name
- Aragonito
- Variety
- Pantojo
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Asteris Explosio
- Matrix
- Marga
- Mine
- Pantoja
- District / Municipality
- Pantoja
- Province
- Toledo
- Region
- Castilla-La Mancha
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5
- Weight
- 39 g
- Acquired
- 2009
- Ex-collection
- Ángel García
- Etymology
- From "Aragon", the Spanish region where it was first discovered.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
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