SMOKY QUARTZ

Crystals are solid material in which the atoms are arranged in regular geometrical patterns. The crystal shape is the external expression of the mineral’s regular internal atomic structure. Temperature, pressure, chemical conditions and the amount of space available are some of the things that affect their growth. Many crystallise from watery solutions, some from molten rock as during volcanic eruptions when lava cools rapidly.
Each mineral will always form in a range of crystal shapes. Although there are literally thousands of minerals, their crystal shape can be grouped on the basis of their symmetry into seven systems of three dimensional patterns.

CUBIC
Four 3-Fold Axes

TETRAGONAL
One 4-Fold Axis

HEXAGONAL
One 6-Fold Axis

TRIGONAL
One 3-Fold Axis

ORTHORHOMBIC
Three 2-Fold Axes

MONOCLINIC
One 2-Fold Axis

TRICLINIC
No Axes