Crystal Morphology, Crystal Symmetry, Crystallographic Axes

EENS 2110 Mineralogy

Tulane University Prof. Stephen A. Nelson
Crystal Morphology, Crystal Symmetry, Crystallographic Axes

This document last updated on 13-Aug-2010

Crystal Morphology and Crystal Symmetry

The symmetry observed in crystals as exhibited by their crystal faces is due to the ordered
internal arrangement of atoms in a crystal structure, as mentioned previously. This
arrangement of atoms in crystals is called a lattice.
In 2-dimensions a plane lattice consists of an orderly array
of points. The array is defined by the spacing between
points and the directions (or angles) between the points.
Thus, the array can be reproduced by specifying the
distance and angle to move from point to point. This is
referred to as translational symmetry. In the example
here, the array is reproduced by moving down a distance a
and moving to the right a distance b. The angle between
the two directions of translation in this case is 90o

In the example to the right, the translation distances a and b are

not equal and the translation angle is not 90o.

Crystals, of course, are made up of 3-dimensional arrays of atoms. Such 3-dimensional arrays
are called space lattices. We discuss these space lattices in 3-dimensions in much more detail
later. For now, however, we will continue to look a plane lattices and note that everything that
applies to these 2-dimensional lattice also applies to space lattices.

There are four important points about crystal lattices that are noteworthy for our study of
crystals:

1. Crystal faces develop along planes defined by the points in the lattice. In other words, all
crystal faces must intersect atoms or molecules that make up the points. A face is more
commonly developed in a crystal if it intersects a larger number of lattice points.
This is known as the Bravais Law.

Page 1 of 4 8/18/2010
 Crystal Morphology, Crystal Symmetry, Crystallographic Axes

For example, in the plane lattice shown at the

right, faces will be more common if they
develop along the lattice planes labeled 1,
somewhat common if they develop along
those labeled 2, and less and less common if
they develop along planes labeled 3, 4, and 5.

2. The angle between crystal faces is controlled by the spacing between lattice points.
As you can see from the imaginary 2-
dimensional crystal lattice shown here, the
angle θ between the face that runs diagonally
across the lattice and the horizontal face will
depend on the spacing between the lattice
points. Note that angles between faces are
measured as the angle between the normals
(lines perpendicular) to the faces. This applies
in 3-dimesions as well.

Changing the lattice spacing changes the

angular relationship. The lattice shown here
has the same horizontal spacing between lattice
points, but a smaller vertical spacing. Note
how the angle φ between the diagonal face and
the horizontal face in this example is smaller
than in the previous example.

3. Since all crystals of the same substance will have the same spacing between lattice points
(they have the same crystal structure), the angles between corresponding faces of the
same mineral will be the same. This is known as the Law of constancy of interfacial
angles, as discussed previously.

4. The symmetry of the lattice will determine the

angular relationships between crystal faces. Thus,
in imperfect crystals or distorted crystals where the
lengths of the edges or faces of symmetry related
faces are not equal, the symmetry can still be
determined by the angles between the faces.

In the example shown here, the upper diagram shows

a perfect crystal with the symmetrically related faces
have equal lengths. The low diagram shows a crystal
built on the same lattice, but with distorted faces.
Note that the angles between faces in the distorted
crystal are the same as in the perfect crystal.

Page 2 of 4 8/18/2010
 Crystal Morphology, Crystal Symmetry, Crystallographic Axes

In order to know which faces on different crystals are the corresponding faces, we need some
kind of standard coordinate system onto which we can orient the crystals and thus be able to
refer to different directions and different planes within the crystals. Such a coordinate system
is based on the concept of the crystallographic axes.

Crystallographic Axes

The crystallographic axes are imaginary lines that we can draw within the crystal lattice. These
will define a coordinate system within the crystal. For 3-dimensional space lattices we need 3
or in some cases 4 crystallographic axes that define directions within the crystal lattices.
Depending on the symmetry of the lattice, the directions may or may not be perpendicular to
one another, and the divisions along the coordinate axes may or may not be equal along the
axes. As we will see later, the lengths of the axes are in some way proportional to the lattice
spacing along an axis and this is defined by the smallest group of points necessary to allow for
translational symmetry to reproduce the lattice.

We here discuss the basic concepts of the crystallographic axes. As we will see, the axes are
defined based on the symmetry of the lattice and the crystal. Each crystal system has different
conventions that define the orientation of the axes, and the relative lengths of the axes.

Unit Cells

The "lengths" of the various crystallographic axes are defined on the basis of the unit cell.
When arrays of atoms or molecules are laid out in a space lattice we define a group of such
atoms as the unit cell. This unit cell contains all the necessary points on the lattice that can be
translated to repeat itself in an infinite array. In other words, the unit cell defines the basic
building blocks of the crystal, and the entire crystal is made up of repeatedly translated unit
cells.

In defining a unit cell for a crystal the choice is somewhat arbitrary. But, the best choice is one
where:

Page 3 of 4 8/18/2010
 Crystal Morphology, Crystal Symmetry, Crystallographic Axes

1. The edges of the unit cell should coincide with the symmetry of the lattice.
2. The edges of the unit cell should be related by the symmetry of the lattice.
3. The smallest possible cell that contains all elements should be chosen.
For example, in the 2-dimensional lattice shown here
there are 6 possible choices to define the unit cell,
labeled a through f. The lattice has 2-fold rotational
symmetry about an axis perpendicular to the page.
Since the lattice itself does not have 3-fold or 6-fold
rotational symmetry, choices a and b would not be wise
choices for the unit cell. Choice f can be eliminated
because it is really just half of cell b. The edges of c
and e are not coincident or parallel to any 2-fold axes
that lie in the plane of the page. Thus our best choice
would cell d.
Once we have chosen a unit cell for the crystal, then it can be oriented on the crystallographic
axes to define the angles between the axes and to define the axial lengths. This will allow us to
define directions within the crystal that become important when we realize that many properties
of crystals depend on direction in the crystal. Properties that depend on direction in the crystal
are called vectorial properties. We'll discuss these in a later lecture.

Another important point is that the relative lengths of the crystallographic axes, or unit cell
edges, can be determined from measurements of the angles between crystal faces. We will
consider measurements of axial lengths, and develop a system to define directions and label
crystal faces in the next lecture.

Examples of questions on this material that could be asked on an exam

1. Define the following: (a) Bravais Law, (b) Law of constancy of interfacial angles, (c)
unit cell, (d) vectorial properties of crystals.

2. How are the crystallographic axes detemined in each of the 6 crystal classes.

3. Explain why the spacing of lattice points and symmetry of the crystal lattice determine
the angles between crystal faces.

Return to EENS 2110 Page

Page 4 of 4 8/18/2010