This text provides an introduction to the world of crystals. It examines how they appear in arctic seas, deserts and furnaces, around the stars, inside plants and animals, and deep within the Earth, yet they conform to only a few basic three-dimensional patterns. It examines the structure of the molecules that make them crystalline as well as examining the many uses of crystallinee materials, domestically, in industry and in science and technology, and covers developments in the field of crystallography.

 

This book is part of a book series called The Earth .

This book is aimed at the following children: secondary school , university .

There are 60 pages in this book. This book was published 1999 by The Natural History Museum .

This book has the following chapters: Enquire within; on the outside; diverse imperfections; crystal world; minerals; gem quality crystals; symmetry; crystal systems; everyday crystals; crystals everywhere; birth and survival; microscopy; crystals and light; defects; how crystals grow; growing in liquid; growing in solid and vapour; evidence of crystal growth; growing crystals for industry; working with crystals; same atoms, different crystals!; electronics and light; liquid crystals; crystals and you; the raw materials of life; making better medicines; crystalline life; facts and figures.