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Is any given crystal of a single mineral aligned in the same way/position?

A. Yes, always
B. No, never
C. Only in certain conditions
D. Depends on the mineral type

User Jesup
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Individual crystals of a mineral do not always align the same way; it depends on specific conditions, and their cleavage may provide insight into their atomic alignment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Is any given crystal of a single mineral aligned in the same way/position? The correct answer is C. Only in certain conditions. Individual crystals of a mineral do not always align in the same way due to various influences such as the environment in which they grow, the space available for growth, and other factors. However, minerals may exhibit a common alignment under certain conditions, such as when they form in a constrained space that forces a particular orientation or growth pattern.

The cleavage of minerals, which is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes, can sometimes be indicative of the alignment of atoms within the crystal, but it often requires examining the mineral's small details and variations in surface height with a hand lens to determine the cleavage directions.

User Vasim
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