The facts
What aragonite actually is
The species behind aragonite is aragonite, CaCO₃; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
Colourless when pure; Fe and organic matter give the brown, amber and blue tones is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.530–1.685 and a specific gravity of about 2.94, with distinct {010}, poor {110} cleavage.
Where aragonite comes from
Commercial material comes from Molina de Aragón, Guadalajara, Spain, Erzberg, Eisenerz, Styria, Austria (flos ferri), Agrigento, Sicily, Italy and Tazouta and Sidi Lahcen, Morocco.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How aragonite is treated
Untreated as specimens; massive banded 'aragonite' ornamental stone from Morocco and Pakistan is often dyed blue or green. Aragonite is metastable and slowly inverts to calcite over geological time, but not on a human timescale.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What aragonite is confused with
Watch for Calcite, Celestine, Strontianite and Witherite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.530–1.685 and specific gravity 2.94 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What aragonite is used for
The trades that buy aragonite are mineral collecting, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and architecture and interiors. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Aragonite is 3.5–4 on the Mohs scale, with distinct {010}, poor {110} cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What aragonite costs
Expect roughly Specimens $10–$800; fine Austrian flos ferri $200–$3,000, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is aragonite treated, and how?
Untreated as specimens; massive banded 'aragonite' ornamental stone from Morocco and Pakistan is often dyed blue or green. Aragonite is metastable and slowly inverts to calcite over geological time, but not on a human timescale.
Where does aragonite come from?
Molina de Aragón, Guadalajara, Spain, Erzberg, Eisenerz, Styria, Austria (flos ferri), Agrigento, Sicily, Italy and Tazouta and Sidi Lahcen, Morocco. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is aragonite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5–4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does aragonite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $10–$800; fine Austrian flos ferri $200–$3,000. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is aragonite confused with?
Most often Calcite, Celestine, Strontianite and Witherite. A refractive index of 1.530–1.685 and a specific gravity near 2.94 separate it quickly.
What is aragonite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and architecture and interiors. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for aragonite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about aragonite