What type of calcium carbonate is specifically known as pink coral?

The correct answer is that pink coral is specifically classified as aragonite. This is an important point in understanding the composition of various natural materials used in jewelry and decorative items. Aragonite is a polymorph of calcium carbonate, which means it shares the same chemical formula (CaCO3) as calcite but has a different crystal structure.

Pink coral, formed in marine environments, is the skeletal structure of coral polyps, and its aragonite composition contributes to its unique color and texture. The formation process involves the deposition of calcium carbonate in various environmental conditions, primarily in warm, shallow waters.

While calcite is another form of calcium carbonate, it is not the form found in pink coral. Corallite refers to the skeletal structure of coral but is not a chemical classification like aragonite or calcite. Magnesite is a different mineral altogether, being a magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) and unrelated to the coral classification. Understanding these distinctions helps in recognizing the importance of mineral composition in the characteristics of gemstones and organic materials like coral.