Description
9cm Aragonite Sputnik, from the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco
This 9cm Aragonite Sputnik is from the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco near the city of Fez. This is an interesting example with mostly pale translucent colours. On the Mohs scale of hardness it is from 3.5 to 4.
Aragonite is a Carbonate mineral, a crystal form of calcium carbonate. There are similarities with calcite, another calcium carbonate, but aragonite is the harder of the two and not nearly as common. It can be colourless or clear but also red, green, and orange. Aragonite being a carbonated metamorphous stone means it frequently occurs in stalactites. It is also occurs in the shells of living molluscs, and fossils millions of years old. It was given its name in 1797 after the large mineral deposits at the village of ‘Molina de Aragon’ in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. In Spain its name is ‘aragonito’. Aragonite Sputniks get their name due to a resemblance to the Russian sputnik satellite, of in 1957.
Metaphysically, Aragonite is a reliable grounding stone, and especially useful during stressful times. This can be powerful stabilising stone that is also good for assisting concentration, bringing flexibility and tolerance. It can also be useful for calming emotional stress, providing strength and support.
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