Aragonite Crystal Cluster Value Guide

This antique Aragonite crystal cluster originates from the historic Molina de Aragón region in Spain, the type locality where the mineral was first identified in 1797. These pre-1900 specimens are highly collectible due to their distinct honey-yellow hue and the specific radiating or botryoidal habit that defines early European mineralogy collections.

What Is Aragonite Crystal Cluster Worth?

The typical price range for Aragonite Crystal Cluster is $100 - $100 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The preservation of the delicate radiating crystal points without significant chipping or breakage.
• The intensity and clarity of the natural honey-yellow color throughout the cluster.
• Historical provenance or original 19th-century collection labels that confirm its Spanish origin.
• The overall size and symmetry of the botryoidal formation.

How to Identify Aragonite Crystal Cluster?

• Look for the characteristic radiating or 'sputnik' crystal habit unique to Spanish aragonite specimens.
• Verify the warm honey-yellow coloration which is typical of authentic Molina de Aragón deposits.
• Check for a heavier density and different cleavage patterns compared to its polymorph, calcite.
• Examine the specimen for historical labels or documentation linking it to pre-1900 Spanish mineral exports.

History of Aragonite Crystal Cluster

Aragonite is a carbonate mineral, one of the two common naturally occurring crystal forms of calcium carbonate, the other form being calcite. It was first described in 1797 by Abraham Gottlob Werner, who named it after the type locality of Molina de Aragón in Spain. Aragonite forms in a variety of environments, including hot springs, caves, and shells of marine organisms. Its unique crystalline structure makes it distinct from calcite, despite sharing the same chemical formula.