What crystals are there?
When you hear the word "crystals" you immediately think of sparkling, precious stones. However, very few people know what types of these stones there are. If this is of your interest, the following description is made for you.
Crystals are used to imagine solids with a very special structure. The ions and molecules present are arranged in such a way that a so-called crystal lattice is created. The building blocks (ions and molecules) sit in a regular arrangement. The better the grid is designed, the larger the resulting crystal. The most famous of all crystals are probably salt crystals and snow crystals. But what other types exist and how do you differentiate them. What are their characteristics?
What crystals are there?
A distinction is made between two large groups - on the one hand, idiomorphic crystals:
- Idiomorphic crystals are unaffected in their formation and training. This means that crystals of this group are not impaired or influenced by external circumstances in their growth and shape.
- Salt crystals, for example, whose shape is reminiscent of a cube, belong to the class of idiomorphic crystals. Deformations and uneven appearances are rather unlikely due to the "free, undisturbed growth".
On the other hand, one divides into the class of xenomorphic crystals:
You have probably already come across the term salt crystal. She …
- Xenomorphic grown crystals can be found in quartz, among other things.
- Unlike idiomorphic crystals, stones of this type don't look that even. Spatial constriction due to directly adjacent neighboring crystals prevent regular growth. A free design of the form is therefore not possible, therefore one cannot assign a special form to xenomorphs.
Subspecies of crystals
The main groups described above can be used to distinguish crystals according to growth and formation. Subspecies can be classified into these two groups. Which crystals there are here is explained in more detail in the following points.
Ice crystals
- In this type, the basic building blocks form a structure which is referred to as "hexagonal". "Hex" means "six" - there are axes of rotation in the crystal lattice that can be moved in six directions.
- Ice crystals are formed when water freezes; a single small drop of water is enough for that.
- Snowflakes are nothing more than bundles of ice crystals, but they have a rather weak cohesion. If you catch a snowflake, it will either melt or disintegrate. Ice crystals in snow are also formed by the freezing of water. However, this process takes place in the clouds, which in turn are only condensed water.
Minerals
- Mineral crystals are the most common crystals found in nature.
- The main components of this type of crystal are melts, solutions (aqueous) and gases. By "mixing" these substances, a main crystal (the so-called crystal nucleus) is formed first of all. Further crystals build up on top of these. Mineral crystals are broken down again through weathering.
Crystals in caves - stalactites and stalagmites
- Stalactites are formed from crystals that hang from the ceiling in caves.
- Stalagmites, on the other hand, form from the ground and grow upwards.
- Stalactites are created by acidic water that drips down through cracks in the cave rock. Little by little the crystals grow down from the ceiling through the "application" of the drops.
- Stalagmites grow by "depositing" carbonaceous water. Over time, the stalagmite crystals build up and grow accordingly in height.
Now you know a little more about this area. You always have the opportunity to read in the text which crystals are available.
How helpful do you find this article?