Hemiholohedral

/ˌhɛmihɒləˈhɛdrəl/ adjective

Definition

In crystallography, displaying a combination of hemihedral and holohedral (complete-faced) characteristics.

Etymology

From 'hemi-' (half) + 'holo-' (whole) + 'hedra' (face), coined in 19th-century mineralogy to describe crystals showing mixed symmetry properties.

Kelly Says

This word describes a crystal that's essentially a hybrid—part complete, part incomplete—showing that nature doesn't always follow one rule and that symmetry can be wonderfully mixed and layered.

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