Configuration in Depth

Clusters		Geodes
Pyramids		Faceted Crystals
Eggs and Hearts		Phantom Crystals
Tumbled Crystals		Wand and Single Termination
Double Terminated Crystals		Configurations In Depth

A crystal is a solid substance with a geometrically regular shape. The word 'crystal' originates from the Greek 'Krystallos', meaning 'ice.' This is because the Greeks believed that a rock crystal was water that had been permanently frozen by the gods. In 1784 a French mineralogist, Rene-Just Hauy discovered by accident that if a crystal were dropped, the fragments all displayed a similar appearance. Crystals can be used in their natural form or a man made shape such as egg, or wand shape and emit the same healing properties. Some shapes are better at directing energy than others. Below are listed the main forms of configuration, natural and man made.

       Crystals and minerals grow quite naturally and in very different shapes and forms. Whilst all crystal types conform to an identifiable structure or crystal system, they do have individual and varying characteristics. No two crystals are exactly alike, but certain formations of crystal can be used for specific metaphysical healing or massage purposes. Some are good at channeling energy whilst others are particularly useful when working with the chakras of the body.
       Whether crystals are of natural formation or they have been carved into specific configurations like wands, eggs or hearts, they all have a part to play in holistic healing therapy and crystal massages.
       Here you will find useful information on how to identify different crystal and mineral configurations and how to use them. If you are unsure of what a channeling crystal is, what it looks like, or you need to identify a record keeper crystal but are not sure what to look for.
      Crystals can form twins. These can be identified by angles on the crystal that points inwards - known as a re-entrant angle. Twinning can occur when crystals meet across a flat surface or where halves seem to have grown into each other. These are known as interpenetrant twins. They can occur singularly or repeated (polysynthetic).

Cubic	All have 4 three fold axes, 3 reference axes all at right angles to each other and of equal length.
Tetragonal	Has a single vertical axis of four fold symmetry. 3 reference axes all at right angles.
Orthorhombic	Has 3 perpendicular two fold axes of symmetry. 3 reference axes at right angles but differing lengths.
Monoclinic	1 two fold axis of symmetry. Reference axes are of different lengths.
Triclinic	No symmetry or just a centre of symmetry. 3 reference axes none of which are at right angles to the others.
Hexagonal	1 vertical 6 fold axis of symmetry 3 horizontal reference axis, equal in length and at 120 degrees to each other.
Trigonal	Has a three fold axis of symmetry 3 horizontal reference axis, equal in length and at 120 degrees to each other.

Crystals form from minerals that are able to grow naturally and unrestricted. They are more or less symmetrical. The shape that the crystal takes, is dictated by the internal pattern of the atoms inside it. Some amazing crystals are formed from those allowed to develop slowly without interference. Others are more prone to developing quickly. There are a few minerals that only vary rarely form crystal structures and these are said to be amorphous, that is, they form masses with no structure.
The type of shape that the crystal develops in is known as its form. These can take many shapes and one mineral once converted to a crystal can take many individual forms on its own. A 'closed' crystal occurs when the form totally encloses a space, an open crystal is not closed at the ends and always combines with other forms.

Acicular	Fine needle shaped crystals
Bladed	Flattened like a knife blade
Botroidal	Like a bunch of grapes.
Dendritic	Tree or moss like formation.
Fibrous	Fine thread like strands.
Mammilated	Round
Massive	Crystalline aggregates without a regular form.
Radiating	Radial crystals or fibres.
Reniform	Kidney shaped.
Tabular	Broad flat surfaces.

Crystals Where? Why? How?

      Crystals usually only form in fissures cavities and joints. There are only a few minerals that contribute to the rocks in the Earth's crust. These are known as rock-forming minerals.
     Mineral deposits form by special processes in several ways. When magma cools to form igneous rocks, minerals can become concentrated in particular areas. Pegmatites can be formed in the last stages of crystallisation of the magma. The late stages of the cooling of the magma can see heated gasses with volatile elements stream into the adjacent rock. The minerals contained eventually crystallise as pheumatolitic ore deposits. During the final stages of the magma cooling hot fluids called hydrothermal solutions can react with the host rock to form veins of ore or gangue.
      Minerals can also drastically alter when exposed to surface weather. Deposits react with the air and water and it can seep down and react with the primary ores, forming oxidised ores above the water table and secondary sulphide enrichment below it. Metasomatism can occur with the host rock reacting with hot fluids creating new minerals.