dendrite

crystal

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June 25, 2026

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pyrolusite Pyrolusite with dendrite crystal formations.

A dendrite is a branching, treelike structure. In the context of crystals, dendritic growth occurs when a crystal grows rapidly from a melt. Instead of forming a smooth, planar surface, the crystal develops instabilities that cause it to grow in branching "fingers" or columns. This occurs because the rapid release of heat at the solid-melt interface is dissipated by convection, disrupting the planar symmetry. Crystals naturally grow fastest in certain directions, and dendrites form along these directions, creating a characteristic feather or tree-like structure. Snowflakes are a common example of crystals that exhibit dendritic growth.12

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mineral
Crystal habit and crystal aggregation
…small spherical or hemispherical groups; dendritic, in slender divergent branches, somewhat plantlike; mammillary, large smoothly rounded, masses resembling mammae, formed by radiating crystals; botryoidal, globular forms resembling a bunch of grapes; colloform, spherical forms composed of radiating individuals without regard to size (this includes botryoidal, reniform, and mammillary forms);
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…small spherical or hemispherical groups; dendritic, in slender divergent branches, somewhat plantlike; mammillary, large smoothly rounded, masses resembling mammae, formed by radiating crystals; botryoidal, globular forms resembling a bunch of grapes; colloform, spherical forms composed of radiating individuals without regard to size (this includes botryoidal, reniform, and mammillary forms);
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crystal
Dendritic growth
At slow rates of crystal growth, the interface between melt and solid remains planar, and growth occurs uniformly across the surface. At faster rates of crystal growth, instabilities are more likely to occur; this leads to dendritic growth. Solidification releases excess energy in…
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At slow rates of crystal growth, the interface between melt and solid remains planar, and growth occurs uniformly across the surface. At faster rates of crystal growth, instabilities are more likely to occur; this leads to dendritic growth. Solidification releases excess energy in…
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olivine
Chemical composition
…small amounts of ferric iron; dendrites (small branching crystals) of magnetite or chromite found oriented with respect to some crystallographic direction within such olivines may be attributed to exsolution. The presence of relatively large amounts of ferric oxide in the analyses of olivines, however, clearly indicates either an advanced state…
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…small amounts of ferric iron; dendrites (small branching crystals) of magnetite or chromite found oriented with respect to some crystallographic direction within such olivines may be attributed to exsolution. The presence of relatively large amounts of ferric oxide in the analyses of olivines, however, clearly indicates either an advanced state…
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