ARAGONITE

Aragonite, a calcium carbonate mineral, was first reported by Dana (1868) and is known from both Franklin and Sterling Hill. It is relatively uncommon and was found in abundance but once; calcite is much more common locally. The known occurrences are secondary; aragonite occurs as acicular crystals and druses in veins and cavities. Physical and chemical data have not been published, but Frondel (1972) reported the presence of Zn in some specimens. The fluorescence in ultraviolet is white or pale green in shortwave and longwave ultraviolet.
The best aragonite specimens are found at Sterling Hill, where they formed in the pits and the mud zone as large (up to 45 cm) plate-like masses of crystals which are up to 5 cm in length, but quite variable. These specimens are generally free of associated minerals. An occurrence associated with oxidized sulfides was reported by Jenkins and Misiur (1994). Aragonite occurs at Franklin sporadically as large, splayed 5 cm masses and as acicular to prismatic crystals found uncommonly in secondary veins and vugs. (Dunn, 1995)

Location Found:

Franklin and Ogdensburg

Mineral Note:

Mineral can be found in prismatic needles and sprays or surface crust.

Year Discovered:

1797

Formula:

CaCO₃

Essential Elements:

Calcium, Carbon, Oxygen

All Elements in Formula:

Calcium, Carbon, Oxygen

IMA Status:

Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"

Fluorescent Mineral Properties

Shortwave UV light:

White to pale yellow (cream) of moderate brightness, rarely green due to uranyl

Mid wave UV light:

White to pale yellow (cream) weaker brightness

Longwave UV light:

White to pale yellow (cream) of moderate brightness

Additional Information:

Phosphoresces white to pale yellow, cream

To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link Aragonite

References:

Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.618

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.42

The Picking Table References

	PT Issue and Page	Description / Comment
View Issue	V. 57, No. 2 - Fall 2016, pg. 12	Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, N.J., Part 1, Richard C. Bostwick - Aragonite
View Issue	V. 45, No. 1 - Spring 2004, pg. 9	The Art of Fluorescent Mineral Photography, With Special Attention to the Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill Photographing the More Popular Franklin and Sterling Hill Fluorescent Minerals - Aragonite
View Issue	V. 35, No. 2 - Fall 1994, pg. 18	A Complex Base-Metal Assemblage From the Sterling Mine New Jersey - Aragonite
View Issue	V. 33, No. 2 - Fall 1992, pg. 10	The Check List of Franklin-Sterling Hill Fluorescent Minerals - Aragonite (Fluorescent Info)
View Issue	V. 27 No. 2 - Fall 1986, pg. 5	Minerals of the Franklin Quarry, Philip P. Betancourt, Aragonite
View Issue	V. 18, No. 1 - March 1977, pg. 19	The Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, NJ by Richard C. Bostwick - Aragonite
View Issue	V. 13, No. 2 - August 1972, pg. 11	The Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin/Ogdensburg Area by Frank Z. Edwards - Aragonite (Fluorescent Info)
View Issue	V. 7, No. 2 - August 1966, pg. 5	The Minerals of Sterling Hill 1962-65 by Frank Z. Edwards - Aragonite

Images


Aragonite crystals on matrix, "mud zone," from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. From the collection of, and photo by, JVF.		Aragonite crystals on matrix, "mud zone," from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under longwave UV light. The aragonite fluoresces blue. From the collection of, and photo by, JVF.

Aragonite crystals on matrix, "mud zone," from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under shortwave UV light. The aragonite fluoresces green. From the collection of, and photo by, JVF.


Aragonite coating on calcite / willemite / franklinite ore from the Franklin Buckwheat Dump, Franklin, New Jersey. Photo by WP.		Aragonite coating on calcite / willemite / franklinite ore from the Franklin Buckwheat Dump, Franklin, New Jersey under longwave UV light. The aragonite fluoresces a faint white-blue to blue-violet and the willemite green, franklinite is non-fluorescent. Photo by WP.

Aragonite coating on calcite / willemite / franklinite ore from the Franklin Buckwheat Dump, Franklin, New Jersey under shortwave UV light. The aragonite fluoresces blue to blue-green, calcite red and the willemite green, franklinite is non-fluorescent. Photo by WP.


Aragonite crystals on matrix from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. 3 1/8" x 2 3/4". From the collection of, and photo by Robert A. Boymistruk.		Aragonite crystals on matrix from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under shortwave UV light. The aragonite fluoresces white, the puple is a reflection from the UV light. From the collection of, and photo by Robert A. Boymistruk.


Aragonite crystals from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. 4" x 2 1/2". From the collection of, and photo by, WP.		Aragonite crystals from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under longwave UV light. The aragonite fluoresces cream to light yellow. 4" x 2 1/2". From the collection of, and photo by, WP.

Aragonite crystals from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under shortwave UV light. The aragonite fluoresces white to light teal. 4" x 2 1/2". From the collection of, and photo by, WP.