Eisenblute, German for iron blossom, is the symbolic name given by miners in Austria to fascinating aggregates of intertwined strands formed by precipitation of the mineral aragonite in underground spaces. Its formation is similar to that by which stalactites and stalagmites are formed in caves. Well known localities of their origin are mines and caves near Eisenerz in Steiermark, Austria and near Lavrion in Greece. Actual length of this specimen is 210 mm. Aragonite is one of the two predominant calcium carbonate (CaCO3) minerals in nature, the other being calcite. Aragonite is the predominant shell and skeleton forming mineral of molluscs, corals and many other marine organisms. Its crystal lattice is unstable on the long term and replaced by that of calcite.