Twinned Crystal

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Term: Twinned CrystalDefinition: A crystal structure where two or more individual crystals share a common lattice, resulting in a symmetrical intergrowth.Phonetic Pronunciation: (TWIN-ed KRIS-tal)Origin: The term "twinned" derives from the Old English "twin," meaning two together, reflecting the dual nature of the crystal structure. The word "crystal" comes from the Greek "krystallos," meaning ice or clear ice, due to the belief that quartz was ice frozen so hard it could not melt.Significance in Asbestos Context: In asbestos mineralogy, twinned crystals can affect the physical properties and identification of asbestos fibers. Understanding twinning is crucial for accurate asbestos analysis and can influence the assessment of asbestos-containing materials.Example Sentence: The presence of twinned crystals in the asbestos sample complicated the identification process during the laboratory analysis.Related Terms: Asbestos fiber, Crystal structure, Chrysotile, Amphibole, X-ray diffractionNotes: - Twinned crystals can sometimes be mistaken for separate crystals, leading to misidentification. - The presence of twinning can affect the mechanical properties of asbestos fibers.