Crystalline

Crystalline refers to a solid material whose constituents, such as atoms, molecules or ions, are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macroscopic single crystals are usually identifiable by their geometrical shape, consisting of flat faces with specific, characteristic orientations.

Overview

The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography. The process of crystal formation via mechanisms of crystal growth is called crystallization or solidification. Crystals are often used in pseudoscientific practices such as crystal therapy, and, along with gemstones, are sometimes associated with spellwork in Wiccan beliefs and related religious movements.

Properties

The flat faces (also called facets) of a crystal are oriented in a specific way relative to the underlying atomic arrangement of the crystal: they are planes of relatively low Miller index. This occurs because some surface orientations are more stable than others (lower surface energy). As a crystal grows, new atoms can very easily attach to the smoother and less-stepped faces leading to rapid growth at these faces. The crystal's interfacial angle is the angle at which the faces meet and is determined by the type of crystal structure.

Crystal Structures

Crystals are described by a set of crystallographic axes of lengths a, b, and c and angles α, β, γ. The crystal structure is defined by the crystal system (triclinic, monoclinic, orthorhombic, tetragonal, rhombohedral, hexagonal, and cubic) and the lattice parameters. The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups.

See Also

• Crystallography
• Crystallization
• Crystal therapy
• Wiccan

References

Crystalline Resources
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