Aragonite
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About Aragonite
Aragonite is a carbonate mineral; one of the three most frequent variants of the crystalline forms of calcium carbonates (CaCO3) (the other two varieties being calcite and vaterite). It is formed in biological and physical processes. Biologically, calcite and aragonite form the skeletons and shells of most marine organisms.
Aragonite is also the mineral with which the shells form their pearls. Physically, aragonite deposits are formed in caves with low temperatures such as stalactites in caves. Another way to form deposits is the precipitation or sedimentation of aragonite in marine or aquatic environments. This always occurs in hot waters with a high concentration of hydrogen ions.
Another interesting fact about aragonite is, that it is phosphorescent. Being exposed to UV-light it shows the emission of white light. But when the UV light is switched off it shows a green afterglow, that slowly disappears.
If you want to read more about fluorescent and phosphorescent stones from Peru, click here:
A reminder: Climate change and Aragonite
Climate change is a grave danger to our planet. Everyone must take action. Aragonite deposits are a reminder of this problem:
When we increase the CO2 in the atmosphere, then the dissolution of this polluting gas in the water is increased and this leads to the presence of hydrogen ions (H+). This process is called sea acidification. In this more acidic water, hydrogen ions do affect the skeletons and shells of marine species, being made out of aragonite.
The hydrogen ions in this case connect with the carbonate ions (CO32- ) that float in the water, forming HCO3-. By reducing the concentration of CO32-, climate change hinders the construction of shells and skeletons of sea organisms.
It has already been proven that some sea organisms have shells that are now 30% thinner than they should be, simply because climate change does not allow them to build their aragonite shells. It is obvious that this means a reduced life expectancy for these organisms. Especially for corals, which will be doubly affected by climate change: On the one hand, the high temperatures of the sea cause them to expel their polyps and die (bleaching) and on the other hand the greater acidity of the water does not allow them to build their skeletons of Aragonite.
It is time that we all stop looking for excuses for our inactivity and that everybody starts helping to resolve this environmental problem.
Rarity
Even though it occurs in Europe, Lybia, Egypt, and Mexico, the largest deposits are in Peru. It is not a rare stone.
Color
Angelite is a glacier-blue or lilac-blue-colored stone.
Color intensity:
In the Angelite mines, one can buy a whitish, pale blue version of Angelite at a cheaper price. This pale material is not adequate for jewelry. Jewelry-grade Angelite displays a more intense blue and can be acquired from mines at a higher price.
Uniformity of color:
Angelite generally displays a uniform coloration with very few color shades.
Impurities
Angelite shows white and brown impurities. White impurities are gypsum. Gypsum impurities appear as tiny white flecks or as massive lines of gypsum penetrating the stone along microcracks in the material. Most likely those cracks opened the way for water to penetrate the stone, which hydrated the cracks and initiated the Angelites’ deterioration into gypsum along those cracks.
The reddish-brown impurities penetrate a great part of the Angelite volume in a similar pattern to the gypsum lines.
Gypsum lines and brownish impurities render more than 75 % of the Angelite unsuitable for jewelry.
Angelite with just a few tiny white gypsum flecks may be used for economy jewelry at a lower price level. However, less than 20 percent of the Angelite rough rock material acquired in the mine is free of impurities and suitable for top-quality jewelry.
In order to obtain this material the nodes must be cut open and all unsuitable material must be cut away. In order to obtain 1 kilo of jewelry-grade material we are buying 5 kilos of rough rock and discard 4 kilos on average.
Polishable
When polishing Angelite Gemrock cutters do NOT follow the regular steps of increasingly finer diamond wheels from 600 to 3000 grit. Maximum polish can be obtained by polishing to 1200 grit and then adding a different polishing method, developed by us, which makes a by far superior polished surface pop out.
Cutting Quality
Challenges:
Angelite is a very soft material. Cutting it requires the application of very little pressure against the shaping and polishing wheels. Cutting small cabs from this soft material becomes more difficult the smaller the required cab is. Inexperienced cutters will most likely deform the cab.
Advantages:
Angelite does not tend to break or chip. Experienced cutters therefore can obtain very sharp unchipped edges between the backside and bezel as well as between the bezel and dome.
Top-cutting-quality is characterized by:
- a polished backside
- a sharp unchipped edge between the backside and the bezel
- a very straight and even highly polished bezel
- a sharp unchipped edge between the bezel and the dome
- a well-shaped dome, not showing any deformation
- Top-quality polish
Be aware of wrongfull quality grading
It’s commonplace in the crystal industry to cut cheap cabochons from any kind of Angelite without applying any kind of grading for high-quality material. Frecuently you can find cabochons made from completely unsuitable material full of brown and white impurities. Unscrupulous dealers take advantage of the lack of knowledge of crystal shops, jewelers, and final clients and market such low-grade and even trashy material as Tripple A top-grade material.
Pricing
Adequate pricing must take into account the cost factors to obtain top-quality cabochons:
- Acquisition of top-grade Angelite with strong color in the mine.
- Selection of material without impurities and discarding more than 80 percent of the rough rock as unsuitable for jewelry.
- A usual material loss of approximately 90 % of the selected material during the cutting and shaping process.
- The level of experience required by a cutter to produce a flawlessly shaped and highly polished cabochon from such a soft material.
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Shapes made with Aragonite
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Cutting services
Do you need reliable high-quality cutting services for a reasonable price? Are you looking for a service provider that is willing to develop new products according to your requirements? Would you like to get expert advice in order to improve your product? Do you wish for someone to optimize the process and get the most out of your rough? Just talk to us.
Get in Touch
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gemrockinternational@gmail.com