I DEVELOPED THIS WEBSITE TO SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE OF CRYSTALS
(THIS IS OVER A FOURTY YEAR COLLECTION.)
THERE ARE SEVERAL PAGES OF DESCRIPTIONS OF CRYSTALS
Crystal Shapes
Crystals are solid material in which the atoms are arranged in regular geometrical patterns. The crystal shape is the external expression of the mineral's regular internal atomic structure. Temperature, pressure, chemical conditions and the amount of space available are some of the things that affect their growth. Many crystallize from watery solutions, some from molten rock as during volcanic eruptions when lava cools rapidly.
CUBIC
Four 3-Fold Axes
TETRAGONAL
One 4-Fold Axis
HEXAGONAL
One 6-Fold Axis
TRIGONAL
One 3-Fold Axis
MONOCLINIC
One 2-Fold Axis
ORTHORHOMBIC
Three 2-Fold Axes
Each mineral will always form in a range of crystal shapes. Although there are literally thousands of minerals, their crystal shape can be grouped on the basis of their symmetry into seven systems of three dimensional patterns.
TRICLINIC
No Axes
Copyright
2002 - 2010
Last Updated
2 January 2010
It is forbidden to use the information and pictures on this site for any commercial use without prior permission from
Art Worley.
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E-mail Art Worley
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2561 Raintree Trail
Ingleside, TX 78362
