Rocks & Minerals & the 7 Crystal Systems
This page features not only video content about the seven crystal systems, but also videos about rocks and minerals, where to find them and so much more! Enjoy!
Web Resources & Handouts
Drexel University - the 7 Crystal Systems
Your Gemologist - A list of rocks and minerals with what system they belong to
Loes Moderman - Microscopic ScienceArt
Mineralogy Database
Ganoskin - The Web's Foremost resource for jewelers - Great info about crystalography
History of Geology - A Short Biography of Agricola (briefly mentioned in the videos series, "Mineral" (part 2 of 6) below.
Drexel University - the 7 Crystal Systems
Your Gemologist - A list of rocks and minerals with what system they belong to
Loes Moderman - Microscopic ScienceArt
Mineralogy Database
Ganoskin - The Web's Foremost resource for jewelers - Great info about crystalography
History of Geology - A Short Biography of Agricola (briefly mentioned in the videos series, "Mineral" (part 2 of 6) below.
the_7_crystal_systems_guide.pdf | |
File Size: | 123 kb |
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7_crystal_systems_chart.pdf | |
File Size: | 259 kb |
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Projects & Activities
Introduction to Crystallography - an interactive activity
Nets of the 7 Crystal Systems - Print out, fold and tape/glue the structures
Introduction to Crystallography - an interactive activity
Nets of the 7 Crystal Systems - Print out, fold and tape/glue the structures
crystal_systems_activity.pdf | |
File Size: | 236 kb |
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Journal Activity - The 7 Crystal Systems
Image Above: Natureglo's example journal page entry about the Triclinic Crystal System using Turquoise as the example mineral illustrating the system.
Journal Guidelines
Journal Guidelines
- Study over Natureglo's journal example of the Triclinic system above. This is an example of the elements you'll want to include in your own journal or blog page. I used Sketchbook Express for Mac, a free app, to do mine. There's also the Sketchbook Express available for Windows. You're welcome to do the same or use a real hardback paper journal and make hand-drawn sketches. I highly recommend using a real journal as it's good to build the skill of writing and sketching with your hands in this digital age.
- Select a resource to study over the 7 Crystal Systems either using any of the above websites or the Wikipedia article about the 7 Crystal Systems here.
- Select one crystal system to journal about, or, if you're feeling especially ambitious, you could set up a separate page per crystal system, giving you a total of 7 journal pages, one per crystal system.
- Put a title of the journal entry, your name and date at the top.
- Sketch one of the 7 Crystal Systems line figures (like I did of the parallelogram in my example above).
- Add key facts such as the description of the main shape, the angles, and real rock and mineral examples (like I included the turquoise).
- Include photographs and or sketches of rock and mineral examples of the crystal system.
- Label the photographs or sketches.
Live & HYBRID Course Videos
The videos below are part of the Rocks & Minerals Jan. - Mar. 16-week HYBRID & Live Mar. - May 8-week Courses. Students are welcome to preview them before the 8-week live course experience and use them as review but please note we will watch these videos during the live class experience whether students watch them before the live class or not.
Informative Videos