Why Don't Crystals Form on the Earth's Surface?
While you may think of wine goblets when the term "crystals" is used, there are many forms of crystals found on the earth's surface. However, most crystals are formed deep beneath the earth's surface.
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Identification
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Though this shows ice crystals on leaves, crystals form intricate patterns within the earth. Crystals can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most identifiable factor of crystals is their orderly structure of atoms, meaning they are a regularly shaped, singularly colored solid. In addition, not all crystals are made up of the same elements; differing composition gives them their unique colors and shapes.
Formation
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Crystals can be found on earth's surface after years of erosion. Where crystals can be present in all rock types, crystals are made of minerals. There are two ways crystals can form: when magma cools, and when liquid is evaporated from elements in solution.
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Features
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Crystals form when magma cools. However, the size and shape of the crystal is determined by several factors. The cooling and evaporation rate determines the size and shape of the crystal. If cooling occurs slowly, then larger, more defined crystals form; on the other hand, if cooling occurs rapidly, smaller crystals form. However, if the rate of cooling is too fast, crystals will not form at all.
Insight
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The interior of the earth acts as an insulator. The interior of the earth acts as an insulator; therefore, not only does magma cool slowly, the rate of evaporation is slowed. On the earth's surface, however, magma cools and evaporation occurs more rapidly because of natural weather patterns. Therefore, crystal formation becomes non-existent.
Considerations
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Nature takes its time when forming these beautiful crystal masterpieces. Of course, time is a relative term when referring to the rate at which elements are cooled or evaporated. Therefore, because crystal formation is entirely dependent on evaporation rate, exposure to weather elements do not give atoms enough time to adhere together to become a crystal.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Athena Flickr Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Jim Unterschultz Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Alisha Vargas Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Eric Fleming Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Rene Ehrhardt Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Alexander Maier
