The crystal structure in a quartz crystal will always be the same. A mineral's crystal structure serves as a tool for identification because it's unique and specific to each variety. Its chemical composition is identical to aragonite yet they're different minerals. The mineral that forms depends on how it crystallises or in other words its crystal structure.Īnother example is calcite which has more crystal structures than any other mineral. Both are iron sulphide minerals (chemical compound of iron and sulphur). Pyrite and marcasite have an identical chemical composition. Should it change it will lead to the formation of a different mineral. The crystal structure for each mineral is always the same. Their formation and subsequent growth is called crystallisation. The shape they form is known as the crystal structure. Actually to be more precise they contain quadrillions. Inorganic means not formed from living matter.Ī typical crystal contains billions of atoms. The atoms form a repeating three dimensional pattern known as a crystal lattice. An example could be malachite or turquoise.Ī crystal is a naturally occurring inorganic solid made up of a highly ordered arrangement of atoms. Others are cut from an aggregate which means crystals have grown together as one large mass. Examples include ruby, topaz and citrine. Most fine gemstones are cut from the crystals of minerals. The most important is colour although some gemstones are colourless.ĭurability, beauty and rarity are the other primary characteristics that make a gemstone different from an ordinary stone.ĭurability encompasses hardness, toughness and stability although the difference between toughness and hardness is often misunderstood. When a rock or mineral is cut and polished mainly (but not always) for personal adornment, it becomes known as a gemstone.įor a material to be officially classified as a gemstone it must have particular attributes. Geology is the study of the Earth, its history, the rocks of which it's constructed, their structure, where they came from, how they have changed over time and how they continue to change. The study of crystals is crystallography, rocks is petrology, minerals is mineralogy and gemstones gemmology. A crystal is formed from a highly ordered repeating arrangement of atoms. For example water (the compound) is made up of hydrogen and oxygen both of which are chemical elements.Ī substance with an internal crystalline structure is made up of crystals. Crystalline means they're made up of crystals.Ĭhemical composition refers to the identity and number of chemical elements in a compound. They're naturally occurring solids with a specific chemical composition and distinctive internal crystalline structure. Minerals also form through a geological process. All three form through different geological processes. The three main classes of rock are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Rocks tend to be quite hard hence the idiom "hard as a rock". The word "rock" describes a naturally occurring solid made up of one or more minerals. Use of the word "crystals" as a blanket term for all three has led to even more confusion. These four words are often used interchangeably but each one represents a naturally occurring solid that's slightly different. Despite their widespread use a great deal of confusion exists regarding the difference between a crystal, a rock and a mineral. The lure of rocks and minerals is universal and common to every human being on the planet. It's now fast-growing multi billion dollar industry. In recent years the market for crystals has exploded. When used for their healing properties the word "crystals" is often used.Īlthough crystal healing is looked upon as a pseudoscience it's hugely popular around the world. Today rocks and minerals are widely used to promote health and well being. Stories and myths associated with various stones have been passed down from one generation to the next. The belief they hold magical powers and healing properties is well documented. In addition to art and jewellery they've been used as tools, carried as talismans, carved into luxury objects and have long been associated with status, wealth and power. Throughout history rocks and minerals have been a source of intrigue and fascination. Rocks used for art specifically in Africa have also been dated back 30,000 years. Tests have confirmed beads created from mollusc shells are likely to have been strung for the purpose of being worn. Samples from three geographic regions confirm their use for personal adornment can be traced back at least 100,000 years. The rocks and minerals we enjoy today are the result of a geological process that began with the formation of Earth some 4.5 billion years ago. Crystals Rocks Minerals Understanding the Difference Contents
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