Monokliinne

Monokliinne is a term used in crystallography to describe a crystal system characterized by three crystallographic axes of unequal length that are inclined to each other at non-right angles. These axes are conventionally designated as a, b, and c, with their lengths differing (a ≠ b ≠ c). The angles between these axes are also unequal and not necessarily 90 degrees. Specifically, the angle between the b and c axes (alpha, α) is not equal to the angle between the a and c axes (beta, β), and neither is equal to the angle between the a and b axes (gamma, γ). Furthermore, all three angles are not 90 degrees (α ≠ β ≠ γ ≠ 90°).

The monokliinne crystal system is the least symmetrical of the seven crystal systems. Its symmetry elements typically include a single two-fold rotation axis or a single mirror plane, or both. This means that the crystal can be rotated by 180 degrees around the two-fold axis to appear identical, or it can be reflected across the mirror plane to achieve the same effect.

Common examples of minerals that crystallize in the monokliinne system include orthoclase feldspar, gypsum, and augite. These minerals often exhibit characteristic crystal shapes that reflect the underlying symmetry of the monokliinne lattice. Understanding the monokliinne system is crucial in mineralogy and materials science for identifying and characterizing crystalline substances.