AllMineralsRock
Aragonite Vs. Vanadinite
Aragonite is a popular mineral composed of calcium carbonate.[1] Vanadinite is also a popular mineral and its chemical composition is lead chlorovanadate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Aragonite and Vanadinite
For a quick recap of the differences aragonite and vanadinite:- While both aragonite and vanadinite can be hexagonal, in terms of crystallography, aragonite can be orthorhombic.
- For chemical formulas, aragonite is CaCO3 while vanadinite is Pb5(VO4)3Cl.
- While both aragonite and vanadinite can be resinous, in terms of luster, aragonite can be dull or vitreous and vanadinite can be adamantine or greasy.
- Aragonite streaks white while vanadinite streaks light yellow or yellow.
- Aragonite can be commonly green while vanadinite can be commonly brown, red or yellow.
- Aragonite's hardness is higher than vanadinite - aragonite ranges from 3.5 to 4 and vanadinite ranges from 2.5 to 3 on the Moh's scale.
- Aragonite's specific gravity is lower than vanadinite - aragonite ranges from 2.93 to 2.947 and vanadinite ranges from 6.5 to 6.88.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Aragonite and Vanadinite
The similarities of aragonite and vanadinite include:- Aragonite and vanadinite both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
- Aragonite's rarity is similar to vanadinite.
Summary of Aragonite
Aragonite is a mineral that is commonly found in sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and marble. It is a polymorph of calcium carbonate, which means that it has the same chemical formula as calcite but a different crystal structure. Aragonite is named after the Aragon region in Spain where it was first discovered.Summary of Vanadinite
Vanadinite is a mineral that is composed of lead, vanadium, oxygen, and chlorine. It typically forms as small hexagonal crystals that are bright red to orange in color. It is commonly found in arid regions and is often associated with other lead minerals such as galena and cerussite. Vanadinite is also known for its distinctive crystal habit, which consists of small hexagonal prisms that are often clustered together.Table Comparison of Aragonite vs Vanadinite
| Aragonite (src) | Vanadinite (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | CaCO3 | Pb5(VO4)3Cl |
| Chemical Composition | calcium carbonate | lead chlorovanadate |
| Specific Gravity | 2.93, 2.947, 2.95, 3 | 6.5, 6.88, 7.1 |
| Hardness | 3.5, 4 | 2.5, 3 |
| Streak | white | light yellow, yellow |
| Crystallography | orthorhombic, hexagonal | hexagonal |
| Refractive Index | 1.53, 1.685 | 2.35, 2.416 |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: green sometimes: red, blue less common: gray, pink, brown, white, orange, purple, yellow, lavender, colorless |
common: brown, red, yellow sometimes: orange, colorless less common: gray, pale, white, multicolor |
| Category | carbonate | vanadate |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.156 | δ = 0.066 |
| Fracture | subconchoidal | conchoidal, uneven |