College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

Unit 5
MINERALOGY
MINERALOGY

Mineralogy is the study of the chemistry, crystal structure and physical properties of
the mineral constituents of rocks.

5.1. ELEMENTARY KNOWLEDGE ON SYMMETRY ELEMENTS OF

CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS

CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
- the study of crystals
- the study if crystalline solids and principles that govern their growth, external shape, and
internal structure.
- crystallography is easily divided into three sections: geometrical, chemical and physical.

WHY DO WE NEED TO STUDY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY?

- It is useful for the identification of minerals
- Study of crystals can provide new chemical information.
- It is of major importance to a wide range of scientific disciplines, including physics,
chemistry, molecular biology, material science and mineralogy
- It is very useful for solid state studies of minerals
- Crystal heating therapy

CRYSTAL
- It is a regular polyhedral form, bounded by smooth faces, which is assumed by a chemical
compound, due to the action of its interatomic forces, when passing, under suitable
conditions, from the state of a liquid or gas to that of a solid.

5.1.1. CRYTAL SYSTEM

- method of classifying crystals according to their atomic lattice or structure. Atomic lattice is
a three-dimensional network of atoms that are arrange in a symmetrical pattern. The shape of
a lattice determines which crystal systems the crystal belongs to, along with its physical
properties and appearance.
- There are 7 crystal systems or groups. Each one has a distinct atomic lattice:

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Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

1. CUBIC (ISOMTERIC) – The three crystallographic axes are equal in length and intersect
at right angles to each other. It is based on a square inner structure.

2. TRIGONAL (RHOMBOHEDRAL) - All three crystallographic axes are equal in length

and none of the axes is perpendicular to another, but the crystal faces all have the same size
and shape.

3. TETRAGONAL - Two axes are equal in length. and all of the axes are perpendicular to
one another.

4. ORTHORHOMBIC - Three axes are unequal in length. and all of the axes are
perpendicular to one another.

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5. HEXAGONAL – Of four axes, three are of equal length, are separated by equal angles,
and lie in the same plane. The fourth axis is perpendicular to the plane of the other three axes.

6. MONOCLINIC – Three axes. All unequal in length, two of which are perpendicular to
one another. The third axis is perpendicular to the other two axes.

7. TRICLINIC – Three axes. All unequal in length, Intersect at three different angles.

5.1.2. SYMMETRY OF CRYSTALS

- symmetry is a set of mathematical rules that describe the shape of an object.
- there’s only 1 object with a perfect symmetry – sphere
- symmetry is the consistency the repetition of something in space and or in time

ELEMENTS OF SYMMETRY

1. PLANES OF SYMMETRY
- any two-dimensional surface that when passed through the center of a crystal, divides it into
two symmetrical parts that are mirror images.

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 College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

2. ROTATION AXIS OF SYMMETRY

- An imaginary line through the center of the crystal around which the crystal may be rotated
so that after a definite angular revolution, the crystal form appears the same as before.
- Depending on the amount of degrees of rotation necessary, four types of axes of symmetry
are possible when you are considering crystallography.
- There are four types of axis of symmetry:
2.1. BINARY SYMMETRY (TWO-FOLD SYMMETRY)
- When rotation repeats form every 180 degrees.

2.2. TRIGONAL SYMMETRY (THREE-FOLD SYMMETRY)

- When rotation repeats form every 120 degrees.

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Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

2.3. TETRAGONAL SYMMETRY (FOUR-FOLD SYMMETRY)

- When rotation repeats form every 90 degrees.

2.4. HEXAGONAL SYMMETRY (6-FOLD SYMMETRY)

- When rotation repeats form every 60 degrees.

3. CENTER OF SYMMETRY
- Most crystals have a center of symmetry, even though they may not posses either planes of
symmetry or axes of symmetry. Triclinic crystals usually only have a center of symmetry.
- If you can pass an imaginary line from the surface of a crystal face through the center of the
crystal (axial cross) and it intersects a similar point on a face equidistant from the center, then
the crystal has a center of symmetry

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Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

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