Bicolor sputnik aragonite, large

Bicolor sputnik aragonite, largeLocale: Morocco Approx dimensions: 4 x 2" Approx weight: 382g This variety of aragonite clusters earns its trade name from the resemblance to the Sputnik satellite, with crystals protruding out in all directions. The bicolor variety grows crystals that are red brown and a grayish white color. This lumpy ass piece looks a bit phallic from the wrong angle (I deleted a few photos ), composed of multiple spherical lumps with a pair at the base and two

Locale: Morocco

Approx dimensions: 4 x 2"

Approx weight: 382g

This variety of aragonite clusters earns its trade name from the resemblance to the Sputnik satellite, with crystals protruding out in all directions. The bicolor variety grows crystals that are red-brown and a grayish-white color. This lumpy-ass piece looks a bit phallic from the wrong angle (I deleted a few photos 😅), composed of multiple spherical lumps with a pair at the base and two stacked above. There are a few patches of broken crystals on the surface, but overall the piece has well-formed even crystal growth with good translucency. Studied closely, some color zoning is visible inside the red crystals.

Sputnik aragonite grows clusters of pseudo-hexagonal crystals radiating out from a central point. 'Pseudo-hexagonal' means the crystals that appear hexagonal are actually formed through crystal twinning. Multiple crystals have grown in rotational symmetry like the arms of a snowflake (as opposed to the mirrored symmetry of a parallel growth twin). This pseudo-hexagonal crystal habit is common in aragonite, and produces long barrel-shaped hexagonal crystals.