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A Geoscience Digital Image Library

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TitleAragonite from the Painted Desert, Arizona
DescriptionAragonite is a polymorph of calcite, which means that it has the same chemistry as calcite but has a different structure, and so different symmetry and crystal shapes. This cluster of sandy stop-sign shaped aragonite crystals formed in sediments in the Painted Desert, Arizona. Aragonite is technically less stable than calcite at normal surface temperatures and pressures. Yet, it still forms under certain conditions. This sample is 8 cm across. The white material is paint with sample number on it.
LocationUSA ▹ Arizona. Painted Desert.
PhotographerDarla Sondrol. 2001-06-12.
CollectionUniversity of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #675.
Key wordsaragonite, Arizona, Painted Desert
Tech details611 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens.
GeoDIL number715