questions relating to the arrangement of atoms in solids, such as the ways in which crystal structure influence material properties, or suitable analytical methods e.g. X-ray diffraction and microscopy
Crystallography is the study of the arrangement of atoms in solids. Details of the 32 crystal classes are available from WebMineral. X-ray Diffraction is the classic technique employed in studying crystal form, but the crystal class to which a mineral belongs may determine its shape on the macro scale in addition to its optical properties, e.g. appearance under cross-polarised light, and other material properties. Questions relating to the influence of crystal structure on mineral properties can use this tag, as can discussion of analytical techniques.
