The six ways crystals grow, with drawings. Rock-hound heaven on one card.
This QuickStudy guide explains what makes a crystal system: the number of axes, their lengths and the angles where they meet. It covers all six systems, cubic to triclinic, with line drawings and example stones like diamond, topaz and malachite. You get one laminated card printed on both sides, sturdy enough for coffee rings.
No meanings here, just the science of how rocks grow. It also explains why raw stones vary so much: time, temperature, the elements around them and flux.
What's on it
- Side one: What defines a crystal system, plus four factors that shape a crystal's size and form.
- Side two: All six crystal systems with axis rules, line drawings and example stones.
How to use it
- Match a raw specimen to its system's drawing
- Use it for homeschool or science fair prep
- Keep it beside your mineral shelf
Care: Store it flat or upright in a book, and wipe it down when it gets smudged.
The details
- Width: 160mm
- Length: 240mm
QuickStudy Guide 2.0 - Crystal Systems
QuickStudy: Crystal Systems
Choose your format
A sturdy double-sided card (about 6.3 x 9.4 in). It ships with the rest of your order.
Keep the card by your things and the file on your phone.
The six ways crystals grow, with drawings. Rock-hound heaven on one card.
This QuickStudy guide explains what makes a crystal system: the number of axes, their lengths and the angles where they meet. It covers all six systems, cubic to triclinic, with line drawings and example stones like diamond, topaz and malachite. You get one laminated card printed on both sides, sturdy enough for coffee rings.
No meanings here, just the science of how rocks grow. It also explains why raw stones vary so much: time, temperature, the elements around them and flux.
What's on it
- Side one: What defines a crystal system, plus four factors that shape a crystal's size and form.
- Side two: All six crystal systems with axis rules, line drawings and example stones.
How to use it
- Match a raw specimen to its system's drawing
- Use it for homeschool or science fair prep
- Keep it beside your mineral shelf
Care: Store it flat or upright in a book, and wipe it down when it gets smudged.
The details
- Width: 160mm
- Length: 240mm
Tap the card to flip it over
Rock Nerd Corner
What's inside Crystal Systems
The six ways crystals grow, with drawings. Rock-hound heaven on one page.
- What defines a crystal system: number of axes, axis lengths and meeting angles
- Why raw and unpolished stones vary in shape
- Four growth factors: time, temperature, elements and flux presence
- Cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, hexagonal, monoclinic and triclinic systems
- Example stones such as diamond, zircon, topaz, malachite and labradorite
- Line drawings of typical crystal forms for every system
Side 1
Intro to crystal structure, plus four factors that affect crystal size and shape.
Side 2
All 6 crystal systems with axis rules, line drawings of crystal forms and example stones.
Goes great with
The guide explains it. These are the real things to hold.
Rock Nerd Corner · 5 guides
The Rock Nerd Set
How crystals grow, why quartz comes in every colour, how to spot lab-grown or treated stones, plus birthstones and zodiac stones.
- Birthstones
- Crystal Systems
- Real, Lab-Grown or Treated?
- Quartz Variations
- Zodiac Crystals
Read this one next
Guides people often pick up together.
Good questions
Which crystal systems are covered?
Six: cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, hexagonal, monoclinic and triclinic. Each has a short description of its axes and angles plus line drawings, and most list example stones.
Does this guide cover crystal meanings?
No. It sticks to the mineral science: how crystal structure works and what affects a crystal's size and shape. Pair it with the Crystal Shapes and Their Meanings guide for that side.
What's the difference between print and PDF?
Print is a sturdy double-sided card (about 6.3 x 9.4 in) that ships with your order. The PDF is the same two pages as a file you can download right after checkout and print at home.
Where do I find my PDF after I buy it?
Log in and open My Digital Resources in your account. Every guide you buy shows up there and you can download it any time.