Cantonese blue aragonite is a calming stone known for its alluring sky blue hues with marbling of shimmering white throughout. Its unique crystal structure and soft color makes this blue beauty a remarkable gemstone to own.
Aragonite is metamorphic gemstone that can be found in stalactite cave formations, hot springs, mollusk shells and volcanic rock cavities. It is a polymorph of calcite, meaning it shares the same chemical makeup, but has a different physical structure. If heated to 400 degrees Celsius, aragonite will convert to calcite. Aragonite forms the basis of many other organic gems like pearl, coral and mother-of-pearl. Fossilized aragonite specimens have been a key factor in the preservation of shell fossils. Aragonite re-crystallizes creating a harder, more stable material that better preserves the shell's beauty. Aragonite varieties can be opaque, translucent or transparent. And this gem comes in a variety of colors including white or colorless, violet, yellow, brown, and blue. Cantonese blue aragonite is an opaque stone found in a gorgeous pale aqua or sky blue. This gem has a vitreous luster and strong pleochroism, meaning that is appears different colors when viewed from different angles.
LOCATION: China
The name aragonite comes from the Spanish province of Aragon where the stone was originally discovered in 1788 along the banks of the Aragon River. This gemstone has since been found in other places and, we source our remarkable blue aragonite from a Cantonese-speaking region in southern China.