Skip to main content

Aragonite - The Best and Pure Form of Calcium Carbonate


Aragonite is a type of sand available mostly in the Bahamas region. It is a mineral consists of mostly carbonate ions and hence qualified as one of the three pure forms of calcium carbonates. The other two are calcite and vaterite which has the same chemical formula but a different structure. This aragonite mineral naturally occurs from the biological and chemical processes in marine and freshwater environments. In the Bahamas region of the United States, millions of tons of aragonite mineral are accumulated long years ago based on certain conditions. These are now permitted to export for any kind of commercial needs.

Formation of Aragonite
Oolites act as the base for the formation of aragonite. It is the small egg-shaped particles forms in the tropical marine water areas. They are fully saturated with calcium bicarbonate mineral. The carbon dioxide from the calcium bicarbonate mineral dissolves in the atmosphere when the temperature rises due to solar radiation and photosynthesis activity. This results in the separation of calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide. The calcium carbonate gets precipitated on the surface of the water and forms tiny layers. These layers interconnect with each other and crystal-like structure forms. These crystals are known as Aragonite. The crystal formed from this method naturally has a pure form of calcium carbonate.


Characteristics of Aragonite Mineral
1.       Aragonite is unique in nature, oolitic shaped, smooth and colourless.
2.       It is unstable at normal temperature because of its negative zeta potential.
3.       The calcite mineral can also be formed from this Aragonite. Since it is unstable, it modifies into calcite within 107 to 108 years.
4.       It is dust-free, non-toxic and easy to handle.
5.       It is a mixture of nearly 100% calcium carbonate and small traced of other elements.
6.       It is 35% more soluble than calcite with pH value ranges from 5 to 7.

Industrial Uses
The purity of the mineral, pH level, solubility, zeta potential and unique properties creates a competitive advantage in various industries. In agricultural industries, the soil with a low pH level gets the immediate benefit of this aragonite. It instantly increases the pH level and makes the soil more stable to get the best result. In marine industries, it is used for replication of coral reefs and also to repel bacteria and viruses. In energy industries, it helps to increase the removal efficiency of SO2 and as a pollutant removal.
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Aragonite’s Key Advantage in Industrial Applications

  Aragonite, a polymorph of calcium carbonate, is a mineral that shares the same chemical composition as calcite but differs significantly in its crystalline structure and physical properties. These differences make aragonite a highly advantageous material for a wide range of industrial applications, offering several key benefits over calcite. The superior characteristics of aragonite have positioned it as a preferred material in industries such as agriculture, plastics manufacturing, and construction.   Unique Crystal Structure and Enhanced Durability   Aragonite’s orthorhombic crystal structure gives it remarkable strength and durability, making it an ideal material for industrial uses that require high performance. This structure is more stable compared to the trigonal structure of calcite, which means that aragonite is better equipped to withstand stress and pressure. In applications such as plastic manufacturing, aragonite is increasingly used as a filler ma...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is Pearl Sand and it’s Benefits?

Pearl sand is a unique type of sand that gets its name from its resemblance to the luster and texture of pearls. It is a fine, soft, and smooth material that has been gaining popularity in various industries, particularly in landscaping, aquariums, and even as an ingredient in beauty products. While the name may suggest that it is directly related to pearls, it is actually derived from natural sand deposits that possess certain distinct qualities.   Pearl sand is most commonly found in coastal regions, riverbeds, and areas where mineral-rich water deposits have undergone natural filtration processes. Coastal erosion, marine activity, and the breakdown of certain types of shellfish and marine life contribute to the formation of pearl sand. Over time, these minerals get ground down and refined into fine, smooth particles. In some cases, pearl sand is harvested from estuaries, beaches, or riverbanks, where the sand has been deposited by the natural flow of water.   Pearl san...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aragonite – Finest form of calcium carbonate

Aragonite is one of the common carbonates like calcite. Calcite and aragonite have same molecule levels, thus they are called as paramorphs. The only differences in these paramorphs are their internal crystal structure. Aragonite has four sided orthorhombic structure whereas the calcite has six sided hexagonal crystals. Calcite is more common than aragonite because of its presence in the seashells, pearls and fossils. Both calcite and aragonite are formed under low temperature conditions but aragonite has low stability when compared with calcite. Aragonite is one of the wonderful collector minerals in the world due to their larger existence. The mineral forms in different attractive structure such as long- needle like form and in various structures.  Oolitic aragonite is the main source of aragonite. Oolitic aragonites are formed in the marine areas naturally. These egg shaped particles are initially saturated with higher amount of calcium carbonate. Due to solar radiation and...
Read more