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    4 views22 pages

    Caracteristicas de Los Sistemas Cristalinos

    Uploaded by

    Eduardo P. Sangabriel

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Mineral Identification A Practical Guide for the Amateur Mineralogist 6y Donald B. Peck 12 Recognizing Isometric Crystals Unique Feature: Four 3-fold axes or 3fold inversion axes of rotational symmetry. If you find only one 3-fold axis, the mineral is probably trigonal, not isometric, A 4-f01d axis is ‘ot a unique feature, as it does not exist in all classes ofthe isometric system * With the isometric system, there is both good news and bad news. First, the bad news; it is af the system with the highest and thus the most complex symmetry. The good news is tha, with the possible exception of the hexagonal system, it isthe easiest to recognize. * 7 Figure 12.1 Crystallographic Axes: Three axes (a) ap and ay) are equal in length and all axes are Isometric Axes at right angles to each other. Thus, isometric minerals have equidimensional (equant) crystals Common Special Forms: Be o \ es &. cast a Hexahetion Octasdron Tetahedron Dodecahedkon Pritchedron —Trapezohedron {100} {yy {ily {101} {210) Qu) Figure 12.2 Isometric forms are usually easily identified by inspection. ‘The octahedron and tetrahedron modify ‘corners of a cube ; the dodecahedron commonly modifies the edges of a cube; and trapezohedrons are often found beveling the edges of a dodecahedron. There are other less common forms: the tetrahexahedron, trisoctahedron, hexoctahedron, gyroid, etc. For these forms, a good reference is Understanding Crystallography by Jennie Smith, Hermann-Mauguin Symbols: In te isometric system, the holohedral class symbol is 4/3 2/m, The first element (4/m) means that the three a-axes are 4-fold axis, each perpendicular toa mitror plane. The second element G) indicates thatthe four body-diagonals are 3-fold inversion axes. And, the third element (2m) means that axes between the midpoints of opposite edges ae each 2-fold axes perpendicular to diagonal mirror planes General Morphology: Isometric minerals are always equidimensional (with a couple of unusual exceptions, like the chalcotrichite variety of cuprite). Cubes (galena, halite, lvorite), octahedrons (magnetite, spinels), dodecahedrons (garnets, magnetite), pyritohedrons (pyrite, cobaltite {pseudo-isometric)), and tetrahedrons (Getrahedrite, tennantte) predominate: Edges and corners are often modified, but the basic habit is easy to spot The Isometric Classes Hexoctahedral Class (holohedral cass) _ Hermann-Mauguin Symbol: 4/m32/m (the inversion axis often appears asa regular 3-fold axis of symmetry) Symmetry Elements: 3A, 4A; 6: 9P C ‘The General Form: Hexoctahedron: 48 faces; when fully developed, 48 scalene triangles Look For: 1. Equidimensional erystal Figure 12.3: Hexoctahedron 2. A-cube, octahedron, tetrahedron, oF The general form, dodecahedron 3. Three 4-fold axes of rotation 4, Four 3-fold axes of rotation -39- Problems: 1. Edges and corners may be ‘modified by other forms. 2. Octahedral faces may be replaced by the trisoctahedron G angular faces on each ‘octahedral face); the hexoctahedron (6 triangular faces on each octahedral face), cor the trapezohedron (3 trapezoidal faces on each octahedral face). 3. Cubic habit of pyrite (see diploidal class) Common Minerals: galena, fluorite, halite, thori Gyroidal Class ‘Hermann-Mauguin Symbol: 432 ‘Symmetry Elements: 3Ay 4A3 6Az (no mirror planes and no center of symmetry) General Form: Gyroid: 24 faces, each an irregular pentagon Look For: 1. An inclined form that is differently ‘shaped on the left and right of other dominant forms. 2. Any of the common isometric forms. Figure 12.4: Cube, modified by dodecahedron. Dotted lines are mirror planes le, garnets, analcime, spinels, magnetite, franklinite & jure 12.5: The General Form ‘The eyroid: 24 irregular pentagons ‘Common Minerals: (none common) sakhaite, yeelimite Hextetrahedral Class _ Hermann-Mauguin Symbol: 43m Symmetry Elements: 3A, 443 6P (the 4-fold inversion axes also appear as normal 2-fold axes) General Form: Hextetrahedron; 24 faces, 6 scalene triangles developed on each tetrahedral side (around each 3-fold axis) Look For: 1. A tetrahedral shape, perhaps modified at the edges and/or comers; ‘occasionally on the faces (ristetrahedron, deltoid tetrahedron, oor hextetrahedron).. 2. Three apparent 2-fold axes that are 4- fold inversion axes. 3. Four 3-fold axes. Problem: 1. Chalcopyrte is inthe Tetragonal Disphenoidal Class. Its crystal is very close to being, tetrahedral but one of, the axes is longer than the other two, Common Minerals: tcirahedrite, tennantite, sodalite, sphalerite -40- WAS, Figure 12.6: The Hextetrahedron ‘The tetrahedron (left is for reference. ‘The hextetrahedron (right). Figure 12.7: Tetrahedron ‘The 2-fold axes are actually 4-fold inversion axes. Dotted lines are mirror planes. Diploidal Class = Hermanin-Mauguin Symbol: 2/m3 ‘Symmetry Elements: 3A; 4A, 3P C General Form: Diploid; 24 trapezoidal faces, Look For: 1. Twelve pentagonal faces; or cubes ‘with striated faces, Note direction of the striations on the faces. The top/bottom set, left side/right side sel, and fronVback set are at 90° angles to each other, and destroy the 4-fold axis of symmetry. They have the same directional relation as the edges containing 2-fold axes on the pytitohedron 2. Three 2-fold axes, each contained in {wo perpendicular mirror planes 3. Four 3-fold axes. Problems: 1. Pyrite cubes sometimes do not show striations. Figure 12.8: Diploid, the General Form : fe a eee Note that there is no 4-fold symmetry. Dotted lines at right are mirror planes. Common Minerals: aurostibite, bixbyite, pyrite, laurte, skutterudite, sperrylite Tetartoidal Class (enantiomorphic class) Hermann-Mauguin Symbol: 23 Symmetry Elements: 342 4A; ‘The General Form: Tetartoid; there are four - positive right, positive left, negative right, and negative left (Don't worry, ‘you are not very likely to see any of them!) Look For: 1. Equant crystal 2. No mirror planes 3, Three 2-fold axes & 4 3-fold axes 4, Pethaps twelve pentagonal faces. ‘Note: Minerals in this class are very rare. ‘Common Minerals: OO Positive Right Positive Left Figure 12.10 The Tetartoid ‘The General Form ‘none common) gersdorfite, langbeinite cals 13 Recognizing Tetragonal Crystals... Unique Feature: a single 4.fold axis or4-fold inversion axis of rotational symmetry. If you ° find more than one 4-fold axis, the mineral is isometric, not tetragonal. Similarly, if you find a 4-fold axis and a 3-fold axis, the mineral is isometric, not tetragonal. - Crystallographic Axes: Two axes (a; and a:) are equal in length and a third (c)s either, shorter or longer. Each axis is at 90° to the other two, 4 Figure 13.1 ‘Common Special Forms: Teiragonal Axes az “ | fp % c-pinacoid Ist order 2nd order Ist order Istorder 2nd order (001) prism prism diprism ——dipyramid——_dipyramid (hkO} {h00) {AKO} {hkl} 0) Figure 13.2 Common Special Forms: [Note that the normal orientation for Ist-order forms in the tetragonal system has the a-axes aligned with the form edges, while for 2nd order forms, the axes are aligned with the midpoint of the form. It is often impossible to differentiate between them. A dominant pyramid is usually considered to be Ist-order. ‘The second element n, in the plane of the Hermann-Mauguin Symbols: ‘The first element refers to the position of the c- refers to the position of the two a-axes. And the third element refers to the “alternate” po: ‘axes, and 45° from them. General Morphology: Crystals are orthogonal. In other words, lok for all axes mecting at right angles. Crystals are usually square prismatic or square tabular. Cross sections are usually square or octagonal. Four sided pyramids are common, So are four sided prisms, but they often have other prisms or diprisms modifying the edges. -pinacoids are often found on the terminations. Two ofthe classes produce sphenoidal crystals that are somewhat ‘wedge shaped, resembling a tetrahedron. ‘The Tetragonal Classes Ditetragonal Dipyramidal Class (The holohedral class) Hermann-Mauguin Symbol: 4/m 2/m 2/m One 4-fold axis (the c-axis) perpendicular to a horizontal mirror plane; Two 2-fold axes each perpendicular to vertical mirror plane, Two 2-fold axes midway between the axes, each perpendicular to a vertical mirror plane. Symmetry Elements: 1A: 43 SP-C General Form: Ditetragonal Dipyramid: 16 faces, 8 on the ‘upper half and 8 on the lower half. Figure 13.3 General Form Ditetragonal Dipyramid -43- Look For: 1. Prismatic or tabular crystal. (Figure 3.4) 2. When viewed from the termination, a generally square cross section , usually 4 oF 8 sides, consisting of one or two prisms. 3. Evidence of a lower pyramid (thus @ General Form: The hexagonal trapezohedron; 12 positive faces and 12 negative faces, in each ase, 6 upper and 6 lower. The form is almost never seen on a erytal, Look For: 1. When viewed from the termination, a 6- fold 2. Six 2-fold axes. 3. Trapezohedral pyramidal faces: the trapezohedral face is a quadrilateral with four unequal edges and the right side ‘ifferent from the lef. Representative Minerals: (none common) Bequant, kirkite, habsdophane-(Ce) ae Figure 14.3: The * Dipyramid Figure 14.4 Beryl ‘The form y, is a dihexagonal

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