Online Encyclopedia

TETRAHEDRAL

Online Encyclopedia
Originally appearing in Volume V07, Page 576 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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TETRAHEDRAL  CLASS (Tetrahedral-hemihedral; Hexakis-tetrahedral) . In this class there is no centre of symmetry nor cubic planes of symmetry; the three tetrad axes become dyad axes of symmetry, and the four triad axes are polar, i.e. they are associated with different faces at their two ends . The other elements of symmetry (&x dodecahedral planes and six dyad axes) are the same as in the last class . Of the seven

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simple forms, the cube, rhombic dodecahedron and tetrakis-hexahedron are geometrically the same as before, though on actual crystals the faces will have different
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surface characters: For instance, the cube faces will be striated parallel to only one of the diagonals (fig . 90), and etched figures on this face will be symmetrical with respect to two lines, instead of four as in the last class . The remaining simple forms have, however, only
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half the number of faces as the corresponding form in the last class, and are spoken of as " hemihedral with inclined faces." Tetrahedron (fig . 26) . This is bounded by four equilateral triangles and is identical with the
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regular tetrahedron of
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geometry . The angles between the normals to the faces are 109° 28' . It may be derived from the octahedron by suppressing the alternate faces . Deltoid 1 dodecahedron (fig . 27) .

This is the hemihedral form of the triakis-octahedron; it has the indices lhhk} and is bounded by twelve trapezoidal faces . l From the

Greek letter SiXra, d; in general, a triangular-shaped
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object; alsoan alternative name for a trapezoid . Triakis-tetrahedron (fig . 28) . The hemihedral form lhkklof the icositetrahedron; it is bounded by twelve isosceles triangles arranged in threes over the tetrahedron faces . Hexakis-tetrahedron (fig . 29) . The hemihedral form {hkll of the hexakis-octahedron; it is bounded by twenty-four scalene triangles and is the general form of the class . Tetrahedra. hedron and Cubes Corresponding to each of these hemihedral forms there is another geometrically similar form, differing, however, not only in
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orientation, but also in actual crystals In the characters of the faces . Thus from the octahedron there may be derived two tetrahedra with the indices {1111 and { Y I I I, which may be distinguished as positive and negative respectively . Fig . 30 shows a combination of Tetrahedron, Cube and Rhombic Tetrahedron and Rhombic Dodecahedron .

Dodecahedron . these two tetrahedra, and represents a crystal of

blende, in which the four larger faces are dull and striated, whilst the four smaller are bright and smooth .
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Figs . 31-33 illustrate other tetrahedral combinations .
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Tetrahedrite, blende,
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diamond,
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boracite and pharmacosiderite are substances which crystallize in this class . PYRITOHEDRALl CLASS (Parallel-faced hemihedral; Dyakis-dodecahedral) . Crystals of this class possess three cubic planes of symmetry but no dodecahedral planes . There are only three dyad axes of symmetry, which coincide with the crystallographic axes; in addition there are three triad axes and a centre of symmetry . Here the cube, octahedron, rhombic dodecahedron, triakis-octahedron and icositetrahedron are geometrically the same as in the first class . The characters of the faces will, however, be different; thus the cube faces will be striated parallel to one edge only (fig . 89), Pentagonal Dodecahedron . Dyakis-dodecahedron .

and triangular markings on the octahedron faces will be placed obliquely to the edges . The remaining simple forms are " hemihedral with parallel faces," and from the corresponding

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holohedral forms two hemihedral forms, a positive and a negative, may be derived . Pentagonal dodecahedron (fig . 34) . This is bounded by twelve pentagonal faces, but these are not regular pentagons, and the angles over the three sets of different edges are different . The regular dodecahedron of geometry, contained by twelve regular pentagons, is not a possible form in crystals . The indices are lhkol : as a simple form 12I01is of very
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common occurrence in
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pyrites . Dyakis-dodecahedron (fig . 35) . This is the hemihedral form of l Named after pyrites, which crystallizes in a typical form of this class . c '576 the hexakis-octahedron and has the indices (hkl) ; it is bounded by twenty-four faces . As a simple form 1321) is met with in pyrites .

Combinations (figs . 36-39) of these forms with the cube and the octahedron are common in pyrites . Fig . 37 resembles in general

appearance the regular icosahedron of geometry, but only eight of the faces are equilateral triangles .
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Cobaltite,
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smaltite and other sulphides and sulpharsenides of the pyrites
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group of minerals crystallize in these forms . The alums also belong to this class; from an aqueous solution they crystallize as simple octahedra, PentagonalDodecahedron,Cube Pentagonal Dodecahedron e and Octahedron . 1210 , Dyakisdodecahedron f 1321), and Octahedron d 11111 .

End of Article: TETRAHEDRAL
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