Mineralcrystal
Mineralcrystal is a term used in crystallography and mineralogy to refer to a single crystal form of a mineral, as opposed to a polycrystalline aggregate. It denotes the uninterrupted, three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a mineral that extends in all directions and is bounded by natural crystal faces that reflect the lattice symmetry.
A mineralcrystal is defined by its unit cell—the smallest repeating block of the lattice—and by the crystal
Crystals form when minerals crystallize from melts, solutions, or during metamorphic processes, with growth conditions such
Properties of a mineralcrystal are anisotropic, meaning many physical properties vary with direction; common descriptors include
In geology, mineralcrystals occur as individuals within rocks and as components of gemstones and ore minerals;