What Are Crystals??

So what exactly is a crystal??

Yup, there are some people out there who have no idea what a crystal even is!! 

I know, I personally can't even imagine that. I've been playing with rocks since I was about 6 years old. I've always found them so fascinating!

We used to live at this apartment complex and along the sides of the road, there were tons of white rocks laying everywhere. I used to go out and pick each one up and look at them and study them for hours. I can neither confirm nor deny that a fair few of them wound up in bowls, play houses, and pockets.

But alas, I digress....

I've met many people who have asked me, what is a crystal? Is a crystal a rock? Or is a rock considered a crystal? Are they the same?! Hmm, those are some good questions! So let's dig into it!

For starters, a crystal is a solid material (usually) in which atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a highly ordered and repeating three-dimensional pattern, known as a crystal lattice. It is this very organized internal structure that gives crystals their characteristic shapes, symmetry and physical properties! Note, while most crystals are solid, there are also liquid crystals as well! Take snow flakes for example! Liquid crystals are just that, crystals that maintain their molecular order while in liquid form! Amazing!

Image by TomDansken - Pixabay
Now to answer your question - is a rock the same as a crystal?

NOPE!!

Why is that you ask? For many reasons!! The main difference is in the formation. As pointed out already, crystals form through a process where atoms, ions or molecules arrange themselves in a highly ordered repeating pattern. This is called crystallization. While a rock forms through processes such as cooling of magma, sedimentation compaction and/or transformation under heat and/or pressure. 

So, while a rock is not a crystal, a crystal can be part of a rock! The reason being is because sometimes the minerals that rocks are composed of are crystalline in nature! Take granite for example - it is a rock made of intergrown crystals of quartz, feldspar and mica.

Image by pics_kartub - Pixabay 
I know, it gets confusing! But, me personally, I like to learn. And I also like to know what I'm holding in my hands and when applicable, what I'm putting in my house. 

Shhhhh, I already told you - I may be a little bit of a crystal junky! 

But there ya go! That's what a crystal is! And how a crystal can be a rock but a rock is not a crystal and all the cool ways they differ and why!

Next, we start getting into the individual crystals! Mwahahahaha! This is where stuff gets really interesting and we get to explore so much more!

Hint - purples are my jam. I love purple, and have so many purple shirts and even leggings! So what crystals are purple?? Oh the options, the options! So many options! Is there a purple crystal you have in mind?? If so, let me know in the comments.