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Crystallography II Some Common Crystal Classes (Point Groups)

1. The document discusses common crystal classes and their defining forms. The cubic system is the most common, accounting for 26% of minerals. 2. It provides details on the forms that define each crystal class, such as the hexoctahedron and octahedron forms that define the cubic hexoctahedral class. 3. Examples are given for each class, such as fluorite for the cubic hexoctahedral class and pyrite for the cubic diploidal class. The defining forms of classes in the tetragonal, hexagonal, trigonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic systems are also outlined.

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151 views3 pages

Crystallography II Some Common Crystal Classes (Point Groups)

1. The document discusses common crystal classes and their defining forms. The cubic system is the most common, accounting for 26% of minerals. 2. It provides details on the forms that define each crystal class, such as the hexoctahedron and octahedron forms that define the cubic hexoctahedral class. 3. Examples are given for each class, such as fluorite for the cubic hexoctahedral class and pyrite for the cubic diploidal class. The defining forms of classes in the tetragonal, hexagonal, trigonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic systems are also outlined.

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Zulfikar
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Crystallography II
Some Common Crystal Classes (Point Groups)
I- Distribution of minerals among the different crystal systems:
1- 26% cubic, 21% monoclinic, 20% Orthorhombic.
2- Within each system, the holohedral class (normal class, or one with the highest
symmetry elements) is the most commonly encountered.
II- Abbreviated Hermann Mauguin Symbols: (Table 1).
Note the differences between the long form and the short form.
III- Forms within each class:
1- In each class, there is a form the faces of which intersect all of the crystallographic
axes. This is known as the general form, and designated by {hkl} or {hk i l}.
2- The general form of a specific crystal class has the most # of faces among all forms
in the same class.
3- All forms other than the general form are considered special forms.
4- The total # of possible forms is 48, 32 of which are general, the rest special.
5- The name of a crystal class is the same as that given to its general form.
6- Several forms may occur in more than one system (e.g. prisms, pinacoids, etc.)
7- Forms of higher symmetry may coexist with other lower symmetry forms in the
same crystal. In this case, the crystal is classified as belonging to the lower
symmetry class.
IV- Selected Crystal Classes and Forms
The Cubic (isometric) system (5 classes)
1- The hexoctahedral class: (4/m 3 2/m i)
7 forms: Hexahedron {100}, Octahedron {111}, Dodecahedron {110}, Trapezohedron
{211}, Tetrahexahedron {210}, Trisoctahedron {221}, Hexoctahedron {321}.
Example: Fluorite.
2- The hextetrahedral class: ( 4 3 m)
Forms: Tetrahedron {111}, Deltohedron {221}, Tristetrahedron {211}, Hextetrahedron
{321}.
Example Sphalerite.
3- Diploidal Class: (2/m 3 )
Forms: Diploid {321}, Pyritohedron {210}.
Example: Pyrite
The Tetragonal System (7 classes)
1- Ditetragonal Dipyramidal: 4/m 2/m 2/m i
Forms: Tetragonal dipyramid {111}, 1st order prism {110}, Ditetragonal dipyramid {212},
Ditetragonal prism {210}, Basal pinacoid {001}.
Example: Zircon

2- Tetragonal dipyramidal: 4/m i


Tetragonal dipyramid {111}, prisms and pinacoids.
Example: Scheelite
3- Tetragonal Scalenohedral: 4 2 m
Forms: Disphenoid {111}, Scalenohedron {122}, prisms, dipyramid, pinacoid.
Example: Chalcopyrite
4- Tetragonal Trapezohedral: 4 2 2
Tetragonal Trapezohedron {hkl}, dipyramids, prisms, pinacoids.
The Hexagonal System: (7 classes)
1- Dihexagonal Dipyramidal: 6/m 2/m 2/m i
Forms: Hexagonal dipyramid {10 1 1}, prism {10 1 0}, Dihexagonal dipyramid {hk i l},
Dihexagonal prism {hk i 0}, Basal pinacoid {0001}.
Example: Beryl
2- Hexagonal Trapezohedral 6 2 2
Forms: Hexagonal trapezohedra {hk i l}, hexagonal dipyramids, hexagonal prisms,
dihexagonal prisms, basal pinacoid.
Example: -Qz
3- Hexagonal dipyramidal 6/m i
Forms: Hexagonal dipyramid of the 3rd order {hk i l}, prisms and pinacoids.
Example: Apatite
3- Hexagonal Pyramidal: 6
Forms: Hexagonal pyramids, pedions, and prisms.
Example: Nepheline
Trigonal System (5 classes)
1- Trigonal Scalenohedral 3 2/m or 3 2/m i
Forms: Scalenohedron {hk i l}, Rhombohedron {h0 h l}, prisms, dipyramids, pinacoid.
Example: Corundum, Calcite group
2- Trigonal Trapezohedral 3 2
Forms: Second order trigonal dipyramid, trigonal trapezohedra, ditrigonal prisms.
Example: -Qz
3- Ditrigonal Pyramidal 3 m
Forms: Trigonal pyramids, trigonal prisms, Pedion
Example: Tourmaline
4- Rhombohedral 3 or 3 i
Forms: Third order rhombohedra, prisms and Pinacoid.
Example: Dolomite
Orthorhombic System: (3 classes)
1- Rhombic dipyramidal 2/m 2/m 2/m i
Forms: Rhombic dipyramid {111}, prisms, front Pinacoid {100}, side Pinacoid {010},
basal Pinacoid {001}.
Example: Barite, andalusite, aragonite.

2- Rhombic pyramidal m m 2
Forms: Rhombic pyramid, Upper and lower domes {011} & {01 1 }, prisms, pinacoids,
and pedions.
Example: Hemimorphite
3- Rhombic Disphenoidal 2 2 2
Forms: Rhombic disphenoid {111}, prisms, and pinacoids.
Example: Epsomite
Monoclinic System: (3 classes)
1- Prismatic: 2/m i
Forms: Front Pinacoid, side Pinacoid, and basal Pinacoid, prisms,
Example: Orthoclase
Triclinic System (2 classes)
1- Pinacoidal: i
Forms: Pinacoids
Example: Wollastonite
2- Pedial: 1
Forms: Pedions.

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