ARAGONITE – Doubly Terminated Crystal Sheaf with Twinned Rosette, Morocco

This is a fine specimen of Aragonite from the celebrated Tazouta diggings, near Sefrou in the Fès-Meknès Region of Morocco, one of the most prolific and recognizable sources of this carbonate species on the international market. The piece is entirely natural, with no treatments or repairs, and displays the classic elongated, slender prismatic crystals for which this locality is famous, arranged in tight parallel sheaf-like sprays radiating outward from a common growth point.

At the heart of the specimen sits a compact rosette of smaller crystals, adding depth and a scenic, three-dimensional quality that makes the piece particularly attractive for display. The crystals show the warm reddish-brown coloration typical of Moroccan aragonite from this deposit, with a pleasant vitreous luster along the elongated faces.

Tazouta is often mistakenly labeled as a mine on older specimen tags, but the aragonite here is actually collected from an open surface outcrop that has never been the site of true underground mining activity — a detail that adds historical interest to specimens from this locality.

With overall dimensions of 48 x 25 x 21 mm and a weight of 28 g, this is a well-formed thumbnail-sized specimen, ideal for both systematic and aesthetic mineral collections.

Aragonite is a calcium carbonate mineral, chemically identical to calcite but crystallizing in the orthorhombic rather than trigonal system — a classic example of polymorphism. This structural difference gives aragonite its characteristic elongated, prismatic crystal habit, quite distinct from the typical rhombohedral forms of calcite.

The warm reddish-brown color seen in this specimen is caused by iron impurities, in the form of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions, substituting into the calcium sites of the carbonate structure during crystal growth. This iron-related coloration is a well-documented feature of aragonite from several Moroccan and Mexican deposits.

The crystals in this piece show the distinctive cyclic twinning typical of the Tazouta locality: three individual crystals intergrown and twinned on their prism faces, producing a pseudohexagonal outline known among collectors as a trilling. This growth pattern, combined with the parallel sheaf-like arrangement of the crystals and the central rosette structure, gives the specimen its scenic, radiating appearance.

Aragonite from this deposit forms in a sedimentary/near-surface carbonate environment, where the crystals develop within an open outcrop rather than a true underground mine.

• Formula: CaCO₃
• Key chemical elements: Calcium, Carbon, Oxygen (with trace Iron responsible for coloration)
• Hardness (Mohs scale): 3.5–4
• Mineral class: Carbonates
• Crystal system: Orthorhombic
• Crystal habit: Prismatic, elongated crystals in parallel sprays with cyclic twinning (pseudohexagonal trillings) and a central rosette
• Formation: Near-surface carbonate deposit, open outcrop (Tazouta diggings)
• Color: Reddish-brown, due to Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ substitution in the carbonate structure
• Locality status: Open surface diggings, historically mislabeled as a mine, never subject to true mining

Aragonite takes its name from the Aragon region of Spain, where it was first formally described in the late 18th century. Despite sharing the exact same chemical formula as calcite, it crystallizes in a completely different system, giving rise to its distinctive elongated, needle-like habit.

The Tazouta locality, near Sefrou in Morocco, is one of the world's best-known sources of aragonite trillings — pseudohexagonal crystal groups formed by the cyclic twinning of three individual crystals on their prism faces. Interestingly, despite being widely referred to in the past as the 'Tazouta mine', the site is in fact an open diggings area that has never been formally mined, with specimens simply collected from the surface outcrop by local diggers.

In crystal healing traditions, Aragonite is regarded as a grounding stone, believed to help center scattered energy and support a stronger connection to the Earth. Its reddish-brown tone is often associated with stability, patience, and inner strength, and it is sometimes used during meditation to encourage calm reflection and emotional balance.

As always, these interpretations are not scientifically proven.

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