The Fascination of Crystals and Symmetry

Unit 3.5

Systematization of crystal structures

3. Step: Crystal classes

crystallographic PG

2. Step: Bravais lattices

primitive + centered

1. Step: Crystal Systems

metric + symmetry of the UC

32
14
7

Crystal Classes
everyday objects can have any symmetry, and

symmetry elements can be combined, in principle,

arbitrarily

infinite number of symmetry classes

the symmetry of crystals i.e. the symmetry of the external

shape of crystals is limited

they can be classified into 32 classes only
the symmetry has to be compatible with the repeating
pattern of the crystal lattice

32 symmetry classes (point groups)

see later

Classify Crystals into Classes

Recipe
1.

What kind of symmetry elements (not operations) does the outer shape crystal sample possess?

2.

Write down only those SE, which are unique (i.e. a SE that exists by
itself and is not created by other SE)!

3.

Crystals that have the same SE belong to the same crystal class!

4.

You will see that the crystal classes can be categorized according to
the crystal systems (or crystal families, see below).

Classify Crystals into Classes

1st Example

no m
no n

crystal class 1

c
i

pinacoidal
a

b
plagioclase
microcline (potassium feldspar),
turquoise, and wollastonite

Classify Crystals into Classes

2nd Example

Classify Crystals into Classes

2nd Example

one m
one 2 perpendicular to m
crystal class
m

http://webmineral.com/data/Gypsum.shtml

2
m

2/m

perpendicular to
speak: 2 over m

Classify Crystals into Classes

2nd Example

one m
one 2 perpendicular to m
crystal class

2
m

perpendicular to
speak: 2 over m

2/m

i
there is also a center of inversion,
however this is not a unique SE
it is automatically generated by 2/m!

http://webmineral.com/data/Gypsum.shtml

Classify Crystals into Classes

2nd Example

one m
one 2 perpendicular to m
crystal class

2
m

perpendicular to
speak: 2 over m

2/m

prismatic

CaSO4 2 H2O
Gypsum
http://webmineral.com/data/Gypsum.shtml

azurite, chlorite, clinopyroxene,

epidote, malachite, kaolinite,
orthoclase, and talc

Classify Crystals into Classes

2nd Example

one m
one 2 perpendicular to m
crystal class

2
m

perpendicular to
speak: 2 over m

2/m

prismatic

Fe3(PO4)2 8 H2O
Vivianite
http://webmineral.com/data/Gypsum.shtml

azurite, chlorite, clinopyroxene,

epidote, malachite, kaolinite,
orthoclase, and talc

Picture Credits
If not otherwise stated pictures, images, sketches, clip arts are
self-taken/self-drawn or
public domain

alephcomo1 - Fotolia.com

by-studio - Fotolia.com

Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com CC-BY-SA-3.0 Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com CC-BY-SA-3.0