Information AboutCrystal Habit |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CRYSTAL HABIT | |
| crystallography | |
| mineralogy | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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The many terms used by mineralogists to describe crystal habits are useful in communicating what specimens of a particular mineral often look like. Recognising numerous habits helps a mineralogist to identify a large number of minerals. Some habits are distinctive of certain minerals, although most minerals exhibit many differing habits which are influenced by certain factors. Crystal habit may mislead the inexperienced as a mineral's Crystal System can be hidden or disguised. Factors influencing a crystal's habit include: a combination of two or more s form elongate barrel-shaped crystals, those found in Montana form stout ''tabular'' crystals. Ordinarily, the latter habit is seen only in Ruby . Sapphire and ruby are both varieties of the same mineral; Corundum . Some minerals may replace other existing minerals while preserving the original's habit: this process is called Pseudomorphous Replacement . A classic example is Tiger's Eye Quartz , Crocidolite Asbestos replaced by Silica . While quartz typically forms ''euhedral'' (well-formed), ''prismatic'' (elongate, prism-like) crystals, in tiger's eye the original ''fibrous'' habit of crocidolite is preserved. LIST OF CRYSTAL HABITS |