acicular texture
mineralogy
Quick Summary
common crystals
Common crystal aggregations and habits.
In mineralogy, acicular describes crystals that are slender and needle-like in shape. This is a type of crystal habit, which refers to the external shape of well-formed crystals. While some minerals form distinct, individual crystals, many occur as aggregates, or groups of crystals grown together. Acicular is one of many descriptive terms used for these aggregations, alongside terms like granular, lamellar, and fibrous. The shape of mineral crystals provides insights into the conditions under which they formed.123
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