About Crystals

Description

• Crystals are formed by crystallized minerals with ions that form a specific geometric pattern that is held in place by common electrons. Any mineral can be a crystal as long as this formation happens. Although all minerals are crystalline, not all minerals are crystals. Crystals are unusual geological occurrences.

Structure

• The reason that not all minerals are crystals is related to how minerals form. Opposite charged atoms arrange into the necessary symmetric patterns. The process continues and atoms bond evenly across the grain of the mineral. This process can create enormous crystals. Theoretically, if the proper atomic bonding continues, the potential size of a crystal is unlimited.

Formations

• Variations in crystal shapes occur as the result of the atomic pattern of a given formation. As atoms continue to bond to a mineral, depending on where the atoms bond, different formations occur. Physicists and materials scientists use the term, crystal. On a popular level, crystal means an object that has a precisely-formed geometric pattern. In addition to the crystals with which most people are familiar, table salt and diamonds are crystals.

Examples

• The are many examples of crystal formations. Water is fused ice. Water becomes solid by crystallization into ice. Igneous rocks form from solidified molten lava flows. When lava cools, a similar crystallization process as with water occurs. Crystals also can be formed from vapor, not a usual process. Sulfur crystals in volcanic formations are examples of vapor-formed crystals.

Considerations

• Crystals have appealed to people for centuries. They have been found in Neolithic burial areas and in Egypt, Russia and Mexico, among other places. Today, crystals enjoy the attention of New Age enthusiasts who claim that the energy of crystals has healing vibrational effects on people who suffer from ailments that range from depression to headaches and even cancer. A crystal's geometric pattern is what causes the crystal to release energy. Like the pattern, a crystal's energy is specific. Regardless of one's personal beliefs, there is no doubt that one can find a vast selection of crystals from malls to small town convenience stores.