32 Crystal Forms

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The information contained in this
presentation is intended for
educational purposes only. It also can
be used in other Mineralogy classes.

Six Crystal Systems

Isometric
Tetragonal
Hexagonal
Orthorhombic
Triclinic
Monoclinic

Isometric

Three equal length axes that

intersecting at right-angles to one
another.

The axes are indistinguishable, as are

the intersecting angles. As such all are
interchangable.

Tetragonal

Three mutually perpendicular axes, two

are equal, the third (vertical) is shorter.

The two horizontal axis in a tetragronal

mineral are oriented in of horizontal
the plane the horizontal. Therefore, if a
= b, c must be inthe vertical.

Hexagonal

Three equal horizontal axes (a1, a2,

a3) and a 4th perpendicular vertical
axis of different length.

The three horizontal axis of a

hexagonal mineral are oriented the
plane of the horizontal, with c in the
vertical.

Othorhombic

Three mutually perpendicular axes of

different lengths.

Convention has it that a crystal is

oriented such that c > b > a.

Crystals are oriented so that c is

parallel to crystal elongation.

Triclinic

Three unequal axes with oblique

angles.

To orientate a triclinic crystal the most

pronounced zone should be vertical.

The b axis should be longer than the a

axis.

Monoclinic

Three unequal axes, two are inclined

with oblique angles, the third is
perpendicular.

Orientation of a crystal has few

constraints b is the only axis fixed by
symmetry.

A crystal's form may be completely

described by use of the Miller's indices and
the Hermann-Mauguin notation of its POINT
GROUP SYMMETRY. The latter notation
tells us how to orient the crystal, in each
specific crystal class, to recognize which axis
(a, b, or c) is designated as having the
highest symmetry. It also tells us what other
symmetry elements may be present and
where they are in orientation to the other
elements.

Crystal Symmetry

When listing the symmetry of each crystal

class an axis of rotational symmetry is
represented by the capital letter A. Whether
this axis is a 2-fold, 3-fold, or 4-fold axis is
indicated by a subscript following the letter
A. The number of such axes present is
indicated by a numeral preceding the
capital A. 1A2, 2A3, and 3A4 thus represent
one 2-fold axis of rotation, two 3-fold axes,
and three 4-fold axes respectively

A center of inversion is noted by the lowercase letter 'i'

while a mirror plane is denoted by 'm'. The numeral
preceding the m indicates how many mirror planes are
present. Axes of rotary inversion are usually replaced by the
equivalent rotations and reflections. For example, a 2-fold
rotoinversion axis is equivalent to reflection through a
mirror plane perpendicular to the rotoinversion axis.

A crystal which possesses a 3-fold rotoinversion axis is

equivalent to one which possesses both 3-fold rotational
symmetry and inversion symmetry.

A 6-fold rotoinversion is equivalent to 3-fold rotation and

reflection across a mirror plane at right angles to the
rotation axis. The only rotoinversion operation which cannot
be thus replaced is 4-fold rotoinversion, which is indicated
by R4.

The class which possesses the highest possible symmetry

within each crystal system is termed the holomorphic class
of that system.

The holomorphic class of each crystal system is indicated

in the table by bold type. For example, the triclinic
parallelohedron is the holomorphic class of the triclinic
crystal system while the isometric hexoctahedron is the
holomorphic class of the isomorphic or cubic crystal system.

The characteristic symmetry element of each crystal system

is listed in bold type. It is thus apparent that the
characteristic symmetry element of the isometric crystal
system is the possession of four 3-fold axes of rotational
symmetry, while the characteristic symmetry element of the
rhombohedral division of the hexagonal crystal system is the
possession of a single 3-fold axis of rotational symmetry.

32 Crystal Forms

The 32 crystal classes represent the 32

possible combinations of symmetry
operations. Each crystal class will have
crystal faces that uniquely define the
symmetry of the class. These faces, or
groups of faces are called crystal forms.

The table below shows the 32 crystal

classes, their symmetry, HermannMauguin symbol, and class name

Crystal System

Crystal Class

Symmetry

Name of Class

none

Pedial

Pinacoidal

1A2

Sphenoidal

1m

Domatic

2/m

i, 1A2, 1m

Prismatic

222

3A2

Rhombic-disphenoidal

mm2 (2mm)

1A2, 2m

Rhombic-pyramidal

2/m2/m2/m

i, 3A2, 3m

Rhombic-dipyramidal

23

3A2, 4A3

Tetaroidal

2/m

3A2, 3m, 43

Diploidal

432

3A4, 4A3, 6A2

Gyroidal

3m

34, 4A3, 6m

Hextetrahedral

4/m2/m

3A4, 43, 6A2, 9m

Hexoctahedral

Triclinic

Monoclinic

Orthorhombic

Isometric

Tetragonal

1A4

Tetragonal- Pyramidal

Tetragonal-disphenoidal

4/m

i, 1A4, 1m

422

1A4, 4A2

4mm

1A4, 4m

2m

14, 2A2, 2m

4/m2/m2/m

i, 1A4, 4A2, 5m

1A3

Tetragonal-dipyramidal
Tetragonaltrapezohedral
Ditetragonal-pyramidal
Tetragonalscalenohedral
Ditetragonaldipyramidal
Trigonal-pyramidal

13

Rhombohedral

32

1A3, 3A2

Trigonal-trapezohedral

3m

1A3, 3m

2/m

13, 3A2, 3m

1A6

Ditrigonal-pyramidal
Hexagonalscalenohedral
Hexagonal-pyramidal

16

Trigonal-dipyramidal

6/m

i, 1A6, 1m

622

1A6, 6A2

Hexagonal-dipyramidal
Hexagonaltrapezohedral

6mm

1A6, 6m

Dihexagonal-pyramidal

m2

16, 3A2, 3m

6/m2/m2/m

i, 1A6, 6A2, 7m

Ditrigonal-dipyramidal
Dihexagonaldipyramidal

Hexagonal

Note that the 32 crystal classes are divided into 6 crystal

systems.

The Triclinic System has only 1-fold or 1-fold rotoinversion axes.

The Monoclinic System has only mirror plane(s) or a single 2fold axis.

The Orthorhombic System has only two fold axes or a 2-fold

axis and 2 mirror planes.

The Tetragonal System has either a single 4-fold or 4-fold

rotoinversion axis.

The Hexagonal System has no 4-fold axes, but has at least 1 6fold or 3-fold axis.

The Isometric System has either 4 3-fold axes or 4 3-fold

rotoinversion axes.

References:

http://
www.geo.umass.edu/courses/geo311/Le
cture8.pdf
http://www.tulane.edu/~
sanelson/eens211/32crystalclass.htm
http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/~
paulmont/CE60New/crystal_structure.p
df
http://www.ece.utah.edu/~angelar/Fina
lReportExample.pdf