Most minerals form crystals |
Click on photo for larger image. |
What is a Crystal? A crystal is a form of matter in which atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged regularly in all directions to form a repeating network. A crystal grows when neat stacks of smaller units combine. |
How large can a crystal grow? With continued nourishment, under constant temperature and pressure, a crystal has unlimited growth potential. A crystal will develop its characteristic form when allowed to grow freely. |
Crystals that can be touched |
|
| amazonite | kyanite |
| apatite | smokey quartz |
| barium sulfate | tourmaline |
| beryl | |
| amethyst |
Featured crystals |
(behind glass) |
|---|---|
| Crystal | Source |
| flourite | Macomb, New York |
| flourite | Rosiclare, Illinois |
| quartz geode | |
| pink dolomite on quartz crystals | Chihuahua, Mexico |
| calcite | Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico |
| kyanite | Litchfield, Connecticut |
| wulfenite | Tacoma Mine, Utah |
| quartz | North West Territory, Canada |
| galena (cube), sphaelerite (black), dolomite (light), chalcopyrite (brass) | Missouri |
| calamine | Aurora, Missouri |
| gypsum | Naica, Mexico |
| aragonite | San Luis California |
| mimetite | San Pedro Coalitos, Chihuahua, Mexico |
| barite | Cumberland, England |
| crocoite | Tasmania |
| apophyllite with scolecite | Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| barite | Palos Verdes Estates, California |
| topaz | San Luis Potosi, Mexico |
| stibnite | Utah |
| andradite garnet | Stanley Butte, Arizona |
| siliceous calcite | Rattlesnake Butte, South Dakota |
| staurolite (cystals in schist) | |
| selenite (variety of gypsum) | |
| wavelite | Avant, Arkansas |
| calcite | Weston, Ohio |
