aragonite

[ uh-rag-uh-nahyt, ar-uh-guh- ]

/ əˈræg əˌnaɪt, ˈær ə gə- /

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noun

a mineral, orthorhombic calcium carbonate, CaCO3, chemically identical with calcite but differing in crystallization and in having a higher specific gravity and less marked cleavage.

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Origin of aragonite

1795–1805; named after Aragon (the province, where first found) + -ite¹

Words nearby aragonite

Arafura Sea, Aragats, Arago man, Aragon, Aragonese, aragonite, Araguaía, Araguarí, Araguaya, rainy day, a, Arakan Yoma

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use aragonite in a sentence

Aragonite occurs in very small masses, of a light yellow color and fibrous structure, between layers of serpentine.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 415, December 15, 1883|Various
Aragonite, a mineral formed of calcium carbonate crystallized in the rhombic system; specific gravity 2.94 (compare Calcite).
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2|Various
In the first class 74 are included sulphur and ammonium nitrate; monotropy is exhibited by aragonite and calcite.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1|Various
The shell consists of carbonate of lime, under one or both of the forms known to mineralogists as calcite and aragonite.
Colouration in Animals and Plants|Alfred Tylor

Like aragonite it is very frequently twinned, the compound crystals being pseudo-hexagonal in form.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7|Various

British Dictionary definitions for aragonite

aragonite

/ (əˈræɡəˌnaɪt) /

noun

a generally white or grey mineral, found in sedimentary rocks and as deposits from hot springs. Composition: calcium carbonate. Formula: CaCO 3 . Crystal structure: orthorhombic

Word Origin for aragonite

C19: from Aragon + -ite 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for aragonite

aragonite

[ ə-răg′ə-nīt′, ăr′ə-gə- ]

A usually white, yellowish, or pink orthorhombic mineral that can occur in many different colors. Aragonite occurs as acicular (needlelike) or tabular crystals, or as fibrous aggregates. It is found in gypsum deposits, at the tips of calcite crystals, in mollusk shells and pearls, and in living reef structures. It is a polymorph of calcite. Chemical formula: CaCO3.