• A sputnik aragonite made of two large spheres composed of tight radial growth. The crystals have good size but are fairly short, covering the piece like tiles. The piece is mostly red-brown with a section of white crystals in the middle, between the two spheres.
  • Another side of the piece mostly covered in white crystals with some red-brown ones in the middle and on the ends. There is one small and one larger patch of crystals with broken end on this side.
  • Another side of the piece, largely covered in crystals with broken ends. They appear opaque white.
  • Closer view of the side of the piece with well-formed crystals, showing large crystal size and good geometry. There are some white and red opaque minerals deposited between crystals.
  • Detail view of the large crystal size on the piece, with good pseudo-hexagonal form and some flattened diamond-shaped crystals.
  • Detail of the side with broken crystals, showing there are still some well-formed white crystals, and the geometric pattern of the broken crystals is visible.
  • The piece on a mineral shelf, showing its relatively vibrant red-brown color and good luster.
  • Scale image of the piece on a measuring mat, measuring a bit over three inches long by two inches wide.
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Bicolor sputnik aragonite, medium "Double Scoop"

Bicolor sputnik aragonite, medium "Double Scoop"

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

Locale: Morocco

Approx dimensions: 3.25 x 2"

Approx weight: 295g

 

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 piece has two large connected spheres like two scoops of ice cream. It has well-formed crystals in a good bicolor balance on one side, and the other side is largely covered with broken crystals.

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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