Aragonite
Aragonite is a mineral form of calcium carbonate that crystallizes in orthorhombic structures, often appearing in needle-like or columnar forms. It's a polymorph of calcite but is less stable under typical surface conditions, making it common in biological structures like shells and pearls, and increasingly relevant in modern environmental science for studying ocean acidification and climate change.
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Aragonite forms the bulk of coral skeletons and is essential for reef-building, with the Great Barrier Reef alone comprising billions of tons of it, supporting a biodiversity hotspot that includes over 1,500 species of fish. Surprisingly, as ocean acidity rises due to climate change, aragonite saturation levels are dropping, potentially dissolving these structures and threatening entire ecosystems by 2100.
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