Crystal structure

Crystal structure or Crystalline structure is a concept fundamental to many areas of science and technology. The Crystal Structure of a substance refers to the orderly spatial arrangement of atoms in its molecular structure. There are 14 basic arrangements of atoms in three dimensions, and all mineral structure recognised till now fit in one of these 14 arrangements.

Cubic, simple Cubic, body-centered File:Cubic, body-centered.png Cubic, face-centered Tetragonal, simple

Orthohombic, simple Monoclinic Rhombohedral Hexagonal

The fourteen basic structure of minerals are :

• triclinic
• monoclinic
• monoclinic (end-centered)
• orthorhombic (simple)
• orthorhombic (end-centered)
• orthorhombic (body-centered)
• orthorhombic (face-centered)
• hexagonal
• rhombohedral
• tetragonal (simple)
• tetragonal (body-centered)
• isometric
• isometric (body-centered)
• isometric (face-centered)

See also

Crystal for a general definition and overview -- Crystallography -- Crystallographic defects

For more detailed information in specific technology applications see materials engineering,materials science, ceramics, metallurgy, or materials physics.