THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 2005 |

How Crystals and Minerals are Formed ?

by Mario | 1 comments

How are crystals formed ?

The Earth evolved from clouds of gases which slowly condensed to form a fiery spherical body which later became Earth, the planet many of us call home.

Rocks, stones and crystals began their lives as the fiery body began to cool and form magma between the fiery core and the crust which enclosed the sphere.

Within the structure of the sphere lies all the minerals that constitute all life and matter on this planet. As the planet began to cool various minerals began to be mixed up within the molten lava. Some minerals collected together and formed pockets of particular mineral content. Most of this planet us constituted of molten lava and only a very small amount is found in the crust, in the form of solid matter.

Formation of Igneous Crystals and Minerals.

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The magma which lies beneath the Earth’s crust exists at very high temperatures (several thousand degrees centigrade), and at very high pressures. As the magma begins to circulate around the inside of the planet, it’s temperature and pressure vary according to the distance from the fiery core. As certain pockets of various mineral contents begin to approach the crust, they begin to crystallise and solidify out of the liquid magma. This is the first stage of the formation of Igneous or Primary minerals.

When magma is emitted directly from faults in the Earth’s crust, through volcanic eruptions or through gaps in the crust, often found underwater, Igneous matter is created on cooling. When the lava is emitted in this way it cools very fast and forms very light and fine rocks such as pumice, lava rock, basalt, various jaspers and odsidian. These types of Igneous rocks are called Vulcanites.

When the magma cools, it can rise upwards within the Earth’s crust and form underground “lakes” of lava which rises and falls depending on how it cools or heats up. Within these pockets of lava the minerals find themselves differentiated into differing concentrations of constituent minerals. This is the first step in the process of mineral formation. Here the mineral is in liquid form and as it continues to cool it begins to crystallise into solid matter. Some minerals are formed through crystallisation of the liquid lava. Minerals formed in this way include Rose Quartz, peridot, green quartz and epidote.

Other minerals can be formed when the lava becomes gaseous under high pressure and penetrates into gaps within previously formed rocks. Here the crystals grow on the inner surface of the rocks as the pressure or the temperature drops. Minerals formed in this way include Amethyst, calcite, topaz, tourmaline and lepidolite.

Formation of Sedimentary Crystals and Minerals.

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Once rocks and minerals have been formed they are constantly being challenged by various changes in their environmental conditions ( much like humans are challenged by life conditions and situations.) Minerals and rock formations are subjected to rain, ice flow, sun, wind, river flow, heat and cold. All these conditions begin and continue to change the structure and formation of various minerals. Just looking at the Grand Canyon can show us the power of erosion of a river. As minerals begin to flow down from wind weathered mountains into rivers, glaciers and through avalanches, deposits of new constituents of minerals build up in new places. As the minerals are deposited or as sedimentation occurs various sedimentary rocks are formed. Sedimentary rocks formed in this way include selenite, gypsum, dolomite, various types of calcite (Iceland spa) and even Boji Stones.

As with rivers and glaciers, rain can also cause the movement of minerals within the Earth’s crust. Rain water contains many other minerals than water. Acids and alkalis can be found within rainwater and this water finds its way through cracks and fissures within the crust. These acid and alkali waters react with other rocks and minerals forming new formations of differing mineral content. These processes usually occur between the crust and the water table on the planet. Rocks and minerals formed in this way include chrysocolla, covellite, dioptase, turquoise and certain types of azurite.

Formation of Metamorphic Crystals and Minerals.

( www.earthsci.org )

The third type of mineral formation occurs deep down inside crust, where the crust meets the magma beneath. Incredibly high pressures and temperatures are constantly being applied to these parts of the crust. Here the tectonic plates are pressed together forming mountain ranges such as the Himalayas and the Andes. In these regions of massive plate movement and considerable temperatures and pressures from the magma below, great change is occurring to the minerals already formed here. Here one mineral or group of minerals is pushed and squeezed together with another. Particles from each group are forced to flow into particles of another. This type of reconstruction is called metamorphosis. Types of minerals formed in this way include Tiger Iron, Lapis Lazuli, Kyanite,Serpentine and nephrite Jade.

When metamorphosis occurs in very small pockets near to volcanic chimneys and away from the main magma concentrations other stones can be formed including Sapphires and Rubies.

These are the three types of mineral formation existing within Earth’s atmosphere. All minerals are birthed through the igneous formation method and then they may be transformed through environmental and pressure conditions and even be re-absorbed by the magma only to be birthed again at a later time!!!

Mario 2005

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