The energy of twin-crystals

Extract

Vernadsky has pointed out that in certain cases a twin-crystal appears to be a more stable form than the simple polyhedron, as proved by Scacchi's observation that twins sometimes exceed in magnitude and regularity simple crystals growing in the same solution. He suggests that an explanation can be found in the fact that the surfaceenergy may be tess for a twin than for a simple crystal of the same volume. The suggestion is a valuable one, but Vernadsky applies no quantitative test to his theory.