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Seven Crystal System

The document describes the 7 crystal systems - hexagonal, orthorhombic, trigonal, cubic, tetragonal, triclinic, and monoclinic. Each system is defined by the number of axes and their lengths and angles. Hexagonal has 3 equal length axes at 60 degree angles in one plane, with a perpendicular axis of different length. Orthorhombic has 3 unequal length axes intersecting at 90 degrees. Trigonal is similar to hexagonal but with a 3 sided prism instead of 6 sided. Cubic has all 3 equal length axes intersecting at 90 degrees. Examples of mineral crystals that exhibit each system are also provided.

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1K views

Seven Crystal System

The document describes the 7 crystal systems - hexagonal, orthorhombic, trigonal, cubic, tetragonal, triclinic, and monoclinic. Each system is defined by the number of axes and their lengths and angles. Hexagonal has 3 equal length axes at 60 degree angles in one plane, with a perpendicular axis of different length. Orthorhombic has 3 unequal length axes intersecting at 90 degrees. Trigonal is similar to hexagonal but with a 3 sided prism instead of 6 sided. Cubic has all 3 equal length axes intersecting at 90 degrees. Examples of mineral crystals that exhibit each system are also provided.

Uploaded by

JakeReynaldo29
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HEXAGONAL

This system comprises crystals with 4


axes, given that there are 8 faces.
Three of these axes are all on one
plane, of equal length and with 60
degrees difference. The other one is
perpendicular to the other three but
not if the same length
EXAMPLES OF HEXAGONAL
Apatite, Aquamarine, Cancrinite,
Emerald, Goshenite, Morganite,
Zincite
ORTHORHOMBIC
In crystallography, the orthorhombic crystal system is one
of the seven lattice point groups. Orthorhombic lattices
result from stretching a cubic lattice along two of its
orthogonal pairs by two different factors, resulting in a
rectangular prism with a rectangular base (a by b) and
height (c), such that a, b, and c are distinct. All three
bases intersect at 90 angles.

Crystals in this system are referred to three mutually
perpendicular axes that are unequal in length. The
orthorhombic unit cell is distinguished by three lines
called axes of 2-fold symmetry about which the cell can
be rotated by 180 without changing its appearance.

EXAMPLES OF ORTHORHOMBIC
Sulfur ,Topaz, Cobaltite, Adamite, Adelite



TRIGONAL
This system is often confused to be whether
under hexagonal as a sub-system or if it is a
whole new system in its own. The reason
for this confusion is how similar it is to the
hexagonal crystal structure, but not entirely.
The significant difference is that in the
hexagonal system, it is a 6-sided prism, as
for the trigonal system, it is a 3-sided prism.
EXAMPLES OF TRIGONAL
Amethyst, Carnelian, Hematite, Ruby, Sapphire,
Quartz, Tourmaline
CUBIC (ISOMETRIC)
All three axes are of equal length and intersect at right angles.
Crystal shapes include:
Cube (diamond, fluorite, pyrite)
Octahedron (diamond, fluorite, magnetite)
Rhombic dodecahedron (garnet, lapis lazuli rarely crystallises)
Icosi-tetrahedron (pyrite, sphalerite)
Hexacisochedron (pyrite).

TETRAGONAL
Two axes are of equal length and
are in the same plane, the main
axis is either longer or shorter,
and all three intersect at right
angles.
EXAMPLES OF TETRAGONAL
Rutile, Scapolite, Scheelite, Wulfenite, Zircon
TRICLINIC
This system is the least symmetrical of
all. Containing no equal sides or
angles, gemstones in this system
generally form tabular crystals as seen
here with this amazonite crystal, a type
of feldspar.
EXAMPLES OF TRICLINIC
Amazonite, Aventurine , Feldspar, Kyanite,
Labradorite, Rhodonite
MONOCLINIC
This system is one of the least symmetrical of the
crystal systems, Until now most systems had some
form or symmetry, meaning as you turn the stone
you would see the same shape repeat itself as the
crystal turns. Not so with the monoclinic system.
This is marked by a triangle with no equal sides or
angles as one possible shape
EXAMPLES OF MONOCLINIC
Azurite, Chrysocolla, Diopside, Epidote, Gypsum,
Hiddenite
SOURCES
http://academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/go336/laird/systems.html
http://www.yourgemologist.com/crystalsystems.html
http://www.crystalage.com/crystal_information/seven_crystal_systems/

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