TERRIUM — A mineralogy cabinet


Aragonito Azul

Aragonito is a mineral with formula CaCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from San Giovanni Mine, Bindua, Iglesiente, Cerdeña, Italia and joined the Terrium collection in 2006.

Aragonito Azul from San Giovanni Mine, Bindua, Iglesiente, Cerdeña, Italia — Terrium

Description

Elongate prismatic crystal rising from a square base and terminating in a flat, chisel-like surface. Sky-blue colour with whitish zones, translucent, with matt silky lustre. Well-marked parallel longitudinal striations. Compact fibrous growth.

History of this specimen

Given to me by Suso Vázquez, from the collection of Sergio Petretich.

About Aragonito

Sardinian blue aragonite occurs as coralloidal forms and as massive columnar-fibrous aggregates, with blue banding and whitish zones characteristic of the locality.

About the locality

The San Giovanni Mine, at Bindua (Iglesias, Sardinia), is noted for its bluish fibrous aragonites, formed in fissures and cavities of Mesozoic limestones under hydrothermal circulation. These aggregates, often massive or columnar-fibrous, are emblematic of Sardinian mineralogy and are now rare in the field.

Technical data

Catalogue No.
0266
Composition
CaCO₃
Name
Aragonito
Variety
Azul
Group
Carbonatos
Category
Estélites
Mine
San Giovanni Mine
District / Municipality
Bindua
Province
Iglesiente
Region
Cerdeña
Country
Italia
Size (cm)
9.5 x 1 x 1
Weight
30 g
Acquired
2006
Ex-collection
Sergio Petretich
Etymology
From the Spanish toponym "Aragón", where it was first described (Molina de Aragón, Spain).
Quality
Buena
Value trend
Estable

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