Crystal Morphology: External

Form
 Review of crystal growth

• Crystals are formed by

the repetition of a 3D unit
structure.
• Faces of the crystal
depend in part, on the
shape of the unit and the
conditions of which the
crystal grows.
• The conditions are:
temperature, pressure,
nature of solution, and
availability of open space
for free growth.
 About crystal morphology…
• Crystal morphology –
form of a crystal
• Aspects related to crystal
morphology are: angular
relationships, size, and
shape of faces.
• Crystal form seems
smooth to the eye
because unit cell
dimensions are in the
Angstrom level (10-8cm)
 Morphology & crystal faces
• The type of crystal faces in a crystal is controlled by the
internal lattice

• Lattice = imaginary pattern of points in which every point

has an environment that is identical to that of any other point
in the lattice (regular arrangement of atoms of a crystal). It
has no specific origin and can be shifted parallel to itself.

• Faces are most likely to form on crystal parallel to lattice

planes that have a high density of lattice points (nodes).

• Frequency of a given face is roughly proportional to the

number of nodes it intersects the lattice: more nodes, more
common is the face (Law of Bravais)
 Lattice points

Plane Lattice
• Crystal faces have a
direct relationship
between them.

• Steno’s law of the

constancy of interfacial
angles:
– The angles between
equivalent faces of crystals
of the same substance,
measured at the same
temperature, are
constant… this is why the
morphology of a crystal is a
valuable tool to identify a
mineral.
 Vectorial Properties
• Different atomic arrangements along
planes and directions within a structure
gives differences in atomic environments
• This can change the magnitude of some of
the crystal’s physical properties
Na

Cl-
 Vectorial Properties, cont.
• Vectorial properties of crystals are:
– Continous –varies continuously with vector direction
• Hardness
• Conductivity for heat and electricity
• Thermal expansion
• Speed of light
– Discontinous- only to certain definite planes or
directions
• Growth rate
• Solution rate
• X-ray diffraction
 Continuous Vectorial Properties:
Importance of crystal orientation
• Hardness: kyanite, diamond Thermal expansion: Ruby

• Electrical & heat conductivity: Ge & Si

• Speed of light: transparent crystals

 Discontinuous Vectorial Properties:
Importance of crystal orientation
• Rate of growth-
– depends on density of plane lattices: low density,
fewer nodes for growth, rapid growth.
– Energy in high density planes is less than lower
density planes, more stable planes
– Low density nodes grow so fast that the faces
developed there disappear
– Fig. 5.24

• Rate of solution
– Crystal faces are etch or pitted when attacked by a
chemical solution