• A lumpy sputnik aragonite with a large sphere of radial growth on the top. The piece is covered with even well-formed red-brown crystals with good translucency and depth of color. The is a patch of broken crystals near the bottom.
  • Another angle of the piece, shaped like three large rounded lumps. There is a patch of broken crystals in the middle. Near the bottom is a patch of white crystals.
  • Side view of the piece, appearing more like a sphere atop an oval. There are well-formed crystals on this side with some opaque light red-brown mineral between them near the bottom.
  • Detail of one of the patches of broken crystals of the piece, with ends appearing white and highlighting the pseudo-hexagonal growth form.
  • A detail view of the side, with clear-to translucent color coloring visible within some of the crystals.
  • Detail of a rounded point of the piece, with a patch of white crystals. The pseudo-hexagonal growth on this side is flattened like a diamond shape.
  • Detail of another side with red-brown crystals and some milky lighter ones. The white crystals are near the back.
  • The piece on a mineral shelf, showing it is relatively vibrant red-brown with good luster.
  • Scale image of the piece on a measuring mat, measuring a bit under four inches by almost two inches.
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Bicolor sputnik aragonite, medium

Bicolor sputnik aragonite, medium

$18.00 USD
$18.00 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Locale: Morocco

Approx dimensions: 3.75 x 1.75"

Approx weight: 382g

 

This variety of aragonite clusters earns its trade name from the resemblance to the Sputnik satellite, with crystals protruding out in all directions. The bicolor variety grows crystals that are red-brown and a grayish-white color. This lumpy piece has short even crystal growth giving it good glitter. It is mostly red-brown with a small patch of white crystals. There are two patches of crystals with ends broken off, appearing whiter.

Sputnik aragonite grows clusters of pseudo-hexagonal crystals radiating out from a central point. 'Pseudo-hexagonal' means the crystals that appear hexagonal are actually formed through crystal twinning. Multiple crystals have grown in rotational symmetry like the arms of a snowflake (as opposed to the mirrored symmetry of a parallel growth twin). This pseudo-hexagonal crystal habit is common in aragonite, and produces long barrel-shaped hexagonal crystals.

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