Common Forms of Minerals in Ideal Conditions

Group
No.

Crystal
System

Isometric

II

Tetragonal

III

Hexagonal

IV

Monoclinic

V
VI

Triclinic
Orthorhom
bic

Forms

Mineral Example

Hexahedron or cube (6)

Halite Galena Fluorite

Octahedron (8)
Dodecahedron (12)
Trapezohedron (24)
Pyritohedron (12)
Tetrahedron (4)
Double pyramid

Gold Spinel Magnetite

Garnet
Leucite Analcite Garnet
Pyrite
Tetrahedrite Sphalerite
Anatase Scheelite

Tabular
Prism and pyramid

Apophyllite
Rutile Cassiterite Scapolite
Zircon
Chalcopyrite

Disphenoids (pseudotetrahedron)
Hexagonal prism
Six - sided prism column
Tabular
Rhombohedron
Hex.
prism
and
rhombohedron
Trigonal prism
Tabular (rhombic)
Rhombic columns
Tabular (six -sided)
Tabular (eight - sided)
Columns or prismatic
Double - wedge Shape
Tabular (monoclinic)
Tabular, six - sided
(pseudo-hexagonal)
Tabular
Elongated rectangular
prisms

Beryl
Apatite
Pyrrhotite
Calcite Siderite

Dolomite

Quartz
Tourmaline
Barite Andalusite
Topaz Natrolite
Marcasite
Olivine
Hornblende Epidote
Sphene
Gypsum, Spodumene
Mica
Chlorite
Rhodonite Axinite Feldspars
Columbite

HABIT
Habit refers to the manner in which the grains of a mineral crystallize or grow
together and is influenced by both the internal structure and the physico-chemical
conditions during their formation. Some minerals may crystallize as isolated or
distinct crystal while others may form aggregates. The common external
morphology, shape or appearance that a mineral assumes during an
unobstructed growth, whether in isolated or aggregate of crystals, is called habit,
which is sometimes termed also as "structure". Habit incorporates the names of
the crystals faces and the name of its form. The following descriptive terms can
be used to denote habits.
1. Crystal faces present
Prismatic: if elongated or short prisms are present
Pyramidal: if pyramid faces are present
Dipyramidal: if dipyramid faces are present
Platy: for pinacoid faces
2. Crystal forms
Some crystal habits derive their names purely from their crystal forms:
Cubic: for cubic forms such as in pyrite
Dodecahedral: if dodecohedron forms are present such as in garnet
Rhombohedral: if rhombohedron forms are present such as in quartz or calcite
Octahedral: if octahedron forms are present
3. Isolated and distinct crystals
Acicular: fine, slender, needle-like crystals (tourmaline)
Banded: exhibiting narrow bands of different colors or textures (fluorite)
Bladed: elongated crystals that are flattened blades, in one direction, as a knife
(kyanite)
Capillary: forming very thin threads which resemble hair (gold)
Columnar: stout, column-like individuals (tourmaline)
Filiform: forming long and thin little columns, which resemble wire (native silver);
interchangeable with capillary
Prismatic: somewhat elongated crystals with well-developed prism faces (quartz)
Tabular: crystals somewhat flattened in one direction (feldspars); also lamellar
and platy
4. Mineral aggregates
Botryoidal: small rounded masses resembling a bunch of grapes (chalcedony)
Concentric: plates approximately parallel about a common center (malachite)
Dendritic: branching pattern (native copper)

Divergent or radiated: acicular crystal groups radiating from a center (wavellite

Drusy: surface covered with a layer of small crystals (quartz)
Fibrous: groups of parallel slender thread-like strands that may, but need not be
easily separable (asbestos)
Foliated: separating easily into plates or leaves (cordierite, chlorite)
Geodes: cavity lined with small crystals but not wholly filled (quartz)
Globular: surface made of little spheres (chalcedony)
Granular: aggregate of equal-sized grains (2-10mm) (calcite)
Lamellar / tabular: flat, plate-like but adhering to each other
Mammillary: rounded masses similar to the botryoidal form but the protuberances
are more flattened (malachite)
Massive: compact crystalline aggregates with no regular form (chalcopyrite)
Micaceous: splitting readily into exceedingly thin plates or sheets (muscovite)
Oolitic: aggregate of small spheres the size of fish eggs (hematite)
Pisolitic: small globular aggregates about the size of peas or in round
concretionary grains (bauxite)
Plumose: fine scales with divergent structure like feathers
Reniform: rounded kidney-shaped masses (hematite)
Reticulated: lattice-like or network arrangement of slender columns or threads
(galena)
Saccharoidal: grains having the size of granulated sugar grains (olivine)
Stalactitic: resembling pendant cylinders or cones (goethite)
Stellated: radiating individuals forming star-like or circular groups (pyrophyllite)
Reference:
Geology 40 Laboratory Exercise 7: Physical Properties of Minerals