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"The mineral corundum which includes the precious stones ruby, sapphire, and topaz, contains alumina, or aluminum oxide, Al2O3. It is found in nature crystallized in rhombohedral forms, having a specific gravity of 3.9, and is scarcely inferior in hardness to diamond." —Hallock 1905

Aluminum

"The mineral corundum which includes the precious stones ruby, sapphire, and topaz, contains alumina,…

This figure reproduces a combination of orthorhombic forms observed on crystals of aluminum orthosilicate, or Andalusite: (a), (b), (c), (m), (l), (n), (r), (p), (s), and (k).

Andalusite

This figure reproduces a combination of orthorhombic forms observed on crystals of aluminum orthosilicate,…

Beryl is a mineral containing beryllium and aluminum in the form of a silicate.

Crystal of Beryl

Beryl is a mineral containing beryllium and aluminum in the form of a silicate.

In some cases, the elongation of a crystal may be in the direction of the orthogonal axis, whose position is determined by the plane of symmetry. This crystal of the silicate mineral, Epidote, shows an example of this.

Elongation in the Direction of the Orthogonal Axis

In some cases, the elongation of a crystal may be in the direction of the orthogonal axis, whose position…

This figure shows a crystal of Orthoclase, exhibiting forms (M), (P), (T), (x), (y), (o), and (n).

Orthoclase

This figure shows a crystal of Orthoclase, exhibiting forms (M), (P), (T), (x), (y), (o), and (n).

Striation of crystal planes may be produced by repeated polysynthetic twinning. This is well illustrated in the case of the triclinic feldspar, Albite. The twinning plane here is the brachypinacoid, and the contact of a large number of fine lamellæ, alternately in twinning position, would evidently produce a striation on the basal plane parallel to the brachydiagonal axis

Striation of Crystal Planes

Striation of crystal planes may be produced by repeated polysynthetic twinning. This is well illustrated…