A crystalline mineral form of calcium carbonate that is less stable than calcite and often converts to it over time.
Named after Aragon, Spain, where it was first identified and described scientifically. The '-ite' suffix is standard for mineral names, making this a toponymic mineral named after its discovery location.
Aragonite is what seashells and coral skeletons are made of, yet it eventually transforms into calcite—shells are literally aging and crystallizing over time! This is why really old fossils can change colors and structure.
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