Meet the Frosted Wonder: White Aragonite

This beautiful spiky specimen is a form of White Aragonite, a polymorph of calcium carbonate that often gets confused with calcite—but it’s got a personality all its own.

Unlike the smooth, rhombohedral forms of calcite, aragonite grows in intricate, branching clusters that can look like coral, snowflakes, or underwater frost. This formation is sometimes nicknamed “Cave Calcite” or even “Flos Ferri” (Latin for “flowers of iron”)—though that name more traditionally refers to similar aragonite formations found in iron mines in Europe.

The piece pictured here was sourced from a dealer in China, where Guangxi Province is especially known for producing delicate white aragonite like this—though similar formations can also be found in Morocco, Pakistan, and parts of Spain and Austria. Many of the Chinese specimens form in hydrothermal environments or in vugs (pockets) inside limestone host rock.

🔬 Scientific Facts:

• Chemical Formula: CaCO₃
• Crystal System: Orthorhombic (unlike calcite’s trigonal system)
• Hardness: ~3.5–4 on Mohs scale
• Luster: Vitreous to silky
• Fluorescence: May glow under UV light (often white to pale blue)

🌿 Metaphysical Properties (for those who tune into crystal energy): White aragonite is said to carry a cleansing, stabilizing energy that clears emotional clutter and supports grounding—especially for those feeling overwhelmed or scattered. Its spiky, branching form reminds us that growth doesn’t always move in a straight line—it expands, evolves, and sparkles from every angle.

📸 You’ll often see this type used in display cases or altars, but it’s delicate—so keep it somewhere safe and handle it with care (no water cleansing, please!).

Do you have a piece of white aragonite in your collection? Drop a photo or share where yours came from—let’s admire these natural snowflake blooms together ❄️💎