Lecture 4:

Miller Indices, Zones, Forms, Twins

Last lecture.. Crystal Systems and Crystallographic Axes were
introduced
These are used by mineralogists to describe the external form of
crystals
The crystallographic axes define a COORDINATE SYSTEM.. If you
know what the coordinate system looks like, you can describe
the position of a plane (i.e. a crystal face) in space
There is a standard notation for describing the orientation of
crystal faces, cleavage planes and any other planar properties
of a mineral, called MILLER INDICES (h k l)

Read Perkins
Chpt 11

How to calculate a Miller Index:

1. Find axial intercepts
2. Invert axial intercepts (infinity => 0)
3. Clear fractions
Example:

1. Axial Intercepts:
a=1, b=2, c=2

c
b

2. Invert intercepts:
1/1, 1/2, 1/2

a
1

3. Clear fractions:
(2 1 1)

Example:
c

1. Axial Intercepts:
a=1, b=1, c=1

2. Invert intercepts:
1/1, 1/1, 1/1
1

3. Clear fractions:
(1 1 1)

1. Axial Intercepts:
a=1, b=1, c=infinity

2. Invert intercepts:
1/1, 1/1, 0
1

3. Clear fractions:
(1 1 0)

-a

1. Axial Intercepts:
a=-1, b=1, c=2
2. Invert intercepts:
-1/1, 1/1, 1/2

-1
1

3. Clear fractions:
(-2 2 1)

Law of Rational Indices (Hauys Law): Miller indices

can always be expressed by simple (small) whole numbers
or zero

Zone [u v w]: a direction defined by a set of crystal faces

with parallel intersection edges; the zone axis is a line through the
center of the crystal that is parallel to the lines of face
intersections
To calculate, choose 2 faces (h1k1l1) and (h2k2l2)
Example (100) and (10-1)

Write h1 k1l1h1k1 l1 1 0 0 1 0 0
h2 k2l2h2k2 l2 1 0-1 1 0 -1
[uvw]=(k1l2-l1k2)(l1h1-h1l2)(h1k2-k1h2) =
(0-0), (0+1), (0-0) = [010]

FORM {h k l}: a group of crystal faces, related by

symmetry
So what? It means those faces all have the same chemical
and physical properties, because they have the same
underlying atomic structure
Note: Dont confuse FORM with HABIT
HABIT = the external shape of a crystal specimen depends
on symmetry, number and size of forms present, depends
on growth conditions

The number of faces that belong to a FORM is determined

by the symmetry of the point group (Ex. Figs 5.36, 5.37 in
Klein)
Ex. Bar 1
Only have a center of symmetry, so form is just two
parallel faces (PINACOID)

Ex. 4/mbar32/m
One face (1 1 1) will get reflected and rotated to form
seven more faces (OCTAHEDRON)

More about forms

GENERAL FORMS: the faces in this form intersect the
crystallographic axes at different lengths
SPECIAL FORMS: all other forms; these faces are parallel
or perpendicular to any of the symmetry elements in the
crystal class

More about forms

CLOSED FORM: encloses space without the presence of
other forms
Ex. Dipyramid: 2 pyramids related by a mirror
Ex. Cube: 6 square faces
Ex. Octahedron: 8 equilateral triangle shaped faces
(tetragonal dipyramid)

OPEN FORM: does not completely enclose space

Ex. Pedion: single face
Ex. Pinacoid: two parallel faces

There are 48 possible forms, which can occur in infinitely many sizes.

TWIN: a symmetrical intergrowth of two or more crystals of

the same substance
Twin element: new symmetry element that relates one part
of the twin aggregate to the other part, they include.. TWIN
PLANE, TWIN AXIS, TWIN CENTER

Lots of kinds of twins, including:

Contact Twins: two crystals appear to be touching; share a plane of
atoms
Penetration Twins: two crystal look like theyve grown through each other;
share a volume of atoms
Multiple Twins: 3 or more parts of the crystal are twinned according to the
same twin law; most common are polysynthetic twins