Minerals, 383 classification crystal lattice structure

TABLE 3E. Classification of Silicate Minerals Based on Structural Arrangements in Silicate Crystal Lattices... 

The minerals can be classified in various ways, for instance in terms of chemical composition, in terms of crystal lattice, crystal size, and porosity, or in terms of surface polarity. Chemical composition has been the most common basis for the classification. However, the development of X-ray diffraction measurements in the first half of this century made it possible to determine crystal structures, and a finer classification of the minerals was developed based on chemical composition as well as the atomic structure of the mineral. 

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