Cubic Mineral
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A Cubic Mineral is a crystalline mineral that crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (characterized by three axes of equal length intersecting at right angles).
- Context:
- It can exhibit highly symmetrical crystal forms, including cubes, octahedra, and dodecahedra.
- It can include both natural minerals and synthetic materials formed under cubic symmetry.
- It can have isotropic optical properties due to its symmetric lattice structure.
- It can range in composition from metallic to oxide, sulfide, and halide minerals.
- It can include minerals used as gemstones (e.g., diamond), ores (e.g., pyrite), or industrial materials (e.g., fluorite).
- It can exhibit varying physical properties like hardness, luster, and color based on its chemical composition.
- It can form in diverse geological environments, such as igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
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- Example(s):
- Diamond, which crystallizes in the cubic system and is prized as a gemstone.
- Pyrite, also known as "fool's gold," which forms cubic and pyritohedral crystals.
- Halite, commonly known as rock salt, which forms cubic crystals in evaporite environments.
- Fluorite, a cubic mineral valued for its fluorescence and use in optics.
- Spinel Group Minerals, which include members like spinel, chromite, and gahnite.
- Magnetite, an iron oxide mineral with a cubic structure and strong magnetic properties.
- Galena, a lead sulfide mineral that forms well-defined cubic crystals and is a major source of lead.
- Cubic Zirconia, a synthetic cubic mineral widely used as a diamond simulant in jewelry.
- Gold, which sometimes crystallizes in cubic forms when found in pure, natural nuggets.
- Cubic Perovskites, synthetic or natural oxides with cubic symmetry used in technological applications.
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- Counter-Example(s):
- Hexagonal Minerals, which crystallize in the hexagonal system rather than cubic symmetry.
- Tetragonal Minerals, which have different axial lengths and lack cubic symmetry.
- Amorphous Materials, which lack a crystalline structure and therefore cannot belong to the cubic system.
- Orthorhombic Minerals, which have three unequal axes and lack cubic symmetry.
- See: Cubic Crystal System, Crystalline Minerals, Symmetry, Crystal Habit, Mineralogy.