Xenomorph (geology)

Xenomorph (also allotriomorph ) is a term from mineralogy and refers to minerals that are not present in its crystallographically related properties shape, ie not pronounced crystal faces and the typical for the respective mineral geometry feature (see also crystal morphology).

Xenomorphs minerals arise when these are concentrated spatially in growth. This is the case where the individual minerals hinder each other in their growth, for example, in more or less simultaneous growth of various minerals during solidification of molten rock ( magma ). Thus they can not develop their own shape and are called xenomorph.

Crystals, which have developed their own full figure are called idiomorphic and those who were able to develop only partially, as hypidiomorph. Pseudomorphs, however, are minerals that have accepted the outward form of another mineral species.

Etymology

The term Xenomorph is made up of ancient Greek ξένος [ Xenos ] for " stranger " or " foreign" and μορφή [ morphé ] for " shape " or "form". The synonymous term allotriomorph derives from the ancient Greek prefix ἄλλοτριος [ allótrios ] from for " alien ( like) ".

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