In crystallography, the cubic crystal system (or isometric crystal system) is the most symmetric of the 7 crystal systems. The system is composed of the three Bravais lattices whose symmetry group is that of a cube. Crystallography (from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and graphein = write) is the experimental science of determining the arrangement of atoms in solids. ... In mineralogy and crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal. ... In geometry and crystallography, a Bravais lattice is an infinite set of points generated by a set of discrete translation operations. ... The symmetry group of a geometric figure is the group of congruencies under which it is invariant, with composition as the operation. ... Cube may denote one of the following. ...
The three Bravais lattices that form the cubic crystal system are:
The point groups that fall under this crystal system are listed below, followed by their representations in international notation and Schoenflies notation, and mineral examples. In crystallography, a crystallographic point group or crystal class is a set of symmetry operations that leave a point fixed, like rotations or reflections, which leave the crystal unchanged. ... In crystallography, a crystallographic point group or crystal class is a set of symmetry operations that leave a point fixed, like rotations or reflections, which leave the crystal unchanged. ... This article is about minerals in the geologic sense; for nutrient minerals see dietary mineral; for the band see Mineral (band). ...
See also: close-packing Galena is a lead ore. ... Cuprite Cuprite is a mineral composed of copper(I) oxide Cu2O, and is an important ore of copper. ... The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, is iron disulfide, FeS2. ... Sphalerite sample Another sphalerite sample Sphalerite (ZnS) is a mineral that is the chief ore of zinc. ... Close-packing of spheres refers to arranging an infinite lattice of spheres so that they take up the greatest possible fraction of an infinite 3-dimensional space. ...
Crystals are produced whenever a solid is formed gradually from a fluid, whether the formation results from the freezing of a liquid, the deposition of dissolved matter, or the direct condensation of a gas into solid form.
The thirty-two classes are grouped into six crystalsystems, based on the length and position of the crystal axes, imaginary lines passing through the center of the crystal, intersecting the faces, and bearing definite relations to the symmetry of the crystal.
The six crystalsystems are of great importance to mineralogists and gemologists; specification of the system is necessary in the description of any mineral (see Mineralogy).