kristalhoeken

Kristalhoeken is a term used in crystallography and mineralogy to describe the corners or vertices of a crystal where two or more crystal faces intersect. In Dutch literature, the plural kristalhoeken refers to these points of convergence, which arise from the orderly arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice and the resulting habit of the crystal.

The position and geometry of crystal corners are influenced by the crystal system and lattice parameters, and they help define the overall shape of a crystal. The angles formed at a corner are related to the orientations of the intersecting faces and can be diagnostic for identifying minerals. For example, the arrangement of faces around a vertex reflects the symmetry of the crystal and the relative lengths of the cell edges.

Observation and measurement of kristalhoeken typically occur through optical microscopy under polarized light or through more detailed crystallographic methods such as X-ray diffraction. Accurate determination of facet angles and corner geometry supports mineral classification, phase identification, and studies of crystal growth conditions.

In practice, kristalhoeken are most easily discussed in the context of crystal habit—the external shape that a crystal tends to acquire—as well as in discussions of specific minerals where corner geometry is characteristic. The concept is related to, but distinct from, related terms such as crystal faces (facets) and cleavage planes, which describe surfaces rather than the meeting points of surfaces.

Notes: the term reflects Dutch usage and may appear alongside other Dutch terms for crystal morphology in technical writings.