Triclinic System

Triclinic System
A crystal system which consists of three axes, all of unequal lengths and at oblique angles to each other.
Triscotahedron
A twenty-four sided geometric solid. One of the crystal forms of the Isometric crystal system.

Part 8: The Triclinic System
Part 9: Summary and Conclusion, Further Reading
About the Authors...

Included are the isometric, hexagonal, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic systems. The tetragonal crystal system is further separated into the hexagonal and trigonal or rhombohedral divisions.

Turquoise has been found only in one location in distinct crystals of the triclinic system in 1912 in Lynch, Virginia, U.S.A.

Crystals that form in the triclinic system have three unequal crystallographic axes, all of which intersect at oblique angles. Triclinic crystals have a 1-fold symmetry axis with virtually no discernible symmetry, and no mirrored or prismatic planes.

Triclinic System
The above seven crystal systems are listed in order of their decreasing symmetry.

Biaxial
The character of crystals from the monoclinic, rhombic, triclinic system which show double refraction but have two direction of single refraction.
Binding
Two or more metal part are fixed together with a metal wire, for soldering.

Biaxial...Two optic axes or double refraction. Usually crystals in the rhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic system.
Bipyramid (dipyramid)...Crystals that form symmetrically about a plane dividing it into two pyramids.

brazilianite, kunzite, moonstone, jade (nephrite, jadeite), malachite, sphene
Triclinic systems
3 crystallographic axes of different lengths, all at different angles
none ...

Another interesting gem example is the case of Al2SiO5 which can crystallize in the orthorhombic system as Andalusite, or in the triclinic system as kyanite.

[Polymorphs of Al2SiO5 : Andalusite, kyanite] ...

Triclinic System - Crystallization system having three unequal axes at oblique angles to each other. (Microcline, Rhodonite)
Trilling - A cyclical twin made up of three crystals, generally forming a hexagonal outline. (Crysoberyl) ...

of the systems, the cyrstals can mineralize into different crystal habits (form). The seven crystal systems are: cubic systems, tetragonal systems, hexagonal systems, trigonal systems, orthorhombic systems, monoclinic systems, and triclinic systems.

The seven crystal systems are: cubic systems, tetragonal systems, hexagonal systems, trigonal systems, orthorhombic systems, monoclinic systems, and triclinic systems. For more information on crystal systems, click here.

See also: Triclinic, Crystal, Crystals, Monoclinic, Crystal System