Staafkristals
Staafkristals is a Dutch term used to describe a crystal habit in which crystals grow as slender, rod- or needle-like forms. It does not denote a single mineral, but rather a morphology that can occur across many different minerals and even in synthetic materials. In mineralogy, rod-shaped or acicular crystals are commonly described as having a pronounced growth in one crystallographic direction, resulting in elongated prisms or needles.
The characteristic appearance of staafkristals arises when growth along one axis proceeds much more rapidly than
Staafkristals occur in a broad range of minerals, including silicates, carbonates, and phosphates, and are also
In scientific and industrial contexts, rod-like crystals—often referred to as acicular crystals when present as needles—are