Geo 306 Forms, Miller Indices

Announcements Questions? Goals:

1. Learn Miller Indices 2. Learn the crystal axes for each, and their relationship to the symmetry.

Crystal Axes & Systems

[exercise with models: identify the symmetry, system, and axes]

Crystal forms
Set of planes related by symmetry Listing of 48 forms is given in Fig 5.38, p. 204-7 Open vs. closed

pinacoid octahedron
Forms to know:

Pedion Pinacoid Prisms Pyramids Dipyramids Rhombic Trigonal Tetragonal Hexagonal Rhombohedron Cube Octahedron Dodecahedron Tetrahedron Group exercise
Groups of 3 Give shape to each Identify System (from symmetry) Identify Axes Identify Forms

Miller indices are a shorthand for the orientation of planes in a crystal

Location/size is mostly irrelevant - a vagary of growth history Used for crystal faces, cleavage planes Useful, because important planes in a crystal generally have low-numbered indices

High density of atoms on low-MI planes

Stable plane

Large distance between layers on low-MI planes

Slow growth

We would not expect to see a crystal face or cleavage plane of (354)

Look like: (001), (210)

no commas parentheses
Need to know crystal system first

Gives crystal axes - direction and length

Simple macroscaopic method works for most planes

three digits, one for each axis zero if plane is parallel one if it intersects
So, (001) is parallel to the a axis and the b-axis

(works for all planes unless there are two that would have the same MI)
Atomic method for understanding whats going on

Show Keynote 2-D versions focus on atomic level (1) Measure intercepts of plane, in units of axis lengths (2) Invert (3) Clear fractions MIs for models / crystals
assume origin in center of crystal Negative intercepts have overbar Axis length are given by calling most prominent face that intersects more than one axis (111) or (110) Doing detailed MIs:

Most prominent (111) type face tells us the relative axial lengths We use this to infer MIs for other planes. Directions
Notation is [001] Works like vector notation, but axes are not cartesian, but crystallographic

Forms
Notation is {001} Choose Miller Indices for one of the planes and use braces

choose one with fewest negatives