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Sputnik aragonite, small

Sputnik aragonite, small

Regular price $7.50 USD
Regular price Sale price $7.50 USD
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Locale: Mexico

Approx dimensions: 1.25–1.5"

Approx weight: 30g avg (15- 45g)

 

This variety of aragonite clusters earns its trade name from the resemblance to the Sputnik satellite, with crystals protruding out in all directions. These small Mexican sputnik aragonite clusters have large chunky crystals and a saturated red-brown coloration. Sputnik aragonite often has broken crystal ends, but these pieces on on the whole are fairly complete with good translucency and luster. Option E gets the ugly duckling discount for having a large surface of 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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