Habits are the distinctive form that minerals may take in different geologic settings, for instance when growing in a free space or in a particular environment. Often a mineral's habit is a strong clue to its identity. Here are examples of some of the most useful mineral habits.
- Acicular HabitNeedlelike
- Amygdaloidal HabitFilling almond-shaped holes
- Banded HabitGeneral term for layered
- Bladed HabitSpiky but not needlelike
- Blocky HabitPyrite chunks on quartz
- Botryoidal HabitLike grape clusters
- Cruciform HabitCrossed twins
- Dendritic HabitA branching form
- Drusy HabitCrusts of crystals
- Encrusting HabitUsually calcite
- Equant HabitRound or cubic
- Fibrous HabitLike straight hairs
- Graphic Index
- Text Index
PrevNext