Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:20 am Posts: 2756 Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
Here's some fascinating research the authors say could have big implications for the entire field of mineralogy. Quasicrystals apparently bridge the gap between crystalline solids and glasses. I have great interest in reading comments about this by mineralogists in the Forum. The research raises questions in my mind about transitional forms of certain minerals like opal and the quartzes.
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:20 am Posts: 2756 Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
Hi GK,
Yes, staring at those patterns can be a little "unsettling."
I've been meaning to dig out an old scientific paper from the CSIRO in Australia that discusses what appears to be a quasi-crystalline structure in precious opal from Spencer, Idaho. Some of that opal, cut as triplets, has the perhaps unique property of creating real 3-legged stars and cat's-eyes. If I remember correctly the author suggested something like a transitional crystal structure from what is essentially an amorphous "glass" as the explanation. That would fit the description given for quasi-crystals.
Too many interesting questions, not nearly enough lifetime to explore them!
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