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1.2 - Weiss Parameters & Miller

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155 views2 pages

1.2 - Weiss Parameters & Miller

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bhatmiku
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1.

2 Weiss Parameter and Miller Indices

Axial ratio: It can be defined as the ratio of the length of the crystallographic axes of a crystal
which is expressed in terms of one of horizontal axes. It is the ratio of the intercepts of the
parametral plane on the crystallographic axes, conventionally expressed in terms of b axis as unity.
Each mineral possess a unique axial ratio. They are normally taken as relative to the length of the
b crystallographic axis. Thus, an axial ratio is defined as follows:

Axial Ratio = a/b : b/b : c/b

where a is the actual length of the a crystallographic axis, b, is the actual length of the b
crystallographic axis, and c is the actual length of the c crystallographic axis.

 For Triclinic, Monoclinic, and Orthorhombic crystals, where the lengths of the three axes
are different, this reduces to

a/b : 1 : c/b (this is usually shortened to a : 1 : c)

 For Tetragonal crystals where the length of the a and b axes are equal, this reduces to

1 : 1 : c/b (this is usually shorted to 1 : c)

 For Isometric crystals where the length of the a, b, and c axes are equal this becomes

1 : 1 : 1 (this is usually shorted to 1)

 For Hexagonal crystals where there are three equal length axes (a1, a2, and a3)
perpendicular to the c axis this becomes:

1 : 1 : 1: c/a (usually shortened to 1 : c)

Intercepts of Crystal Faces (Weiss Parameters)

Crystal faces can be defined by their intercepts on the crystallographic axes. For non-hexagonal
crystals, there are three cases.

1. A crystal face intersects only one of the crystallographic


axes: As an example the top crystal face shown here intersects the
c axis but does not intersect the a or b axes. If we assume that the
face intercepts the c axis at a distance of 1 unit length, then the
intercepts, sometimes called Weiss Parameters, are: ∞a, ∞b, 1c

2. A crystal face intersects two of the crystallographic axes:


As an example, the darker crystal face shown here intersects the
a and b axes, but not the c axis. Assuming the face intercepts the a
and c axes at 1 unit cell length on each, the parameters for this face
are: 1a, 1b, ∞c

3. A crystal face that intersects all 3 axes: In this example the


darker face is assumed to intersect the a, b, and c crystallographic
axes at one unit length on each. Thus, the parameters in this
example would be: 1a, 1b, 1c

Two very important points about intercepts of faces:

 The intercepts or parameters are relative values, and


do not indicate any actual cutting lengths.
 Since they are relative, a face can be moved parallel to
itself without changing its relative intercepts or
parameters.

Because one does usually not know the dimensions of the unit cell, it is difficult to know what
number to give the intercept of a face, unless one face is chosen arbitrarily to have intercepts of 1.
Thus, the convention is to assign the largest face that intersects all 3 crystallographic axes the
parameters - 1a, 1b, 1c. This face is called the unit face.

Miller Indices

The Miller Index for a crystal face is found by first


determining the parameters second inverting the
parameters, and third clearing the fractions.

For example, if the face has the parameters 1 a, 1 b, ∞c

By inverting the parameters would be1/1, 1/1, 1/∞, this


would become 1, 1, 0

The Miller Index is written inside parentheses with no


commas - thus (110).

As further examples, let's look at the crystal shown


here. All of the faces on this crystal are relatively
simple. The face [labeled (111)] that cuts all three axes at 1 unit length has the parameters 1a,1b,
1c. Inverting these, results in 1/1, 1/1, 1/1 to give the Miller Index (111).

The square face that cuts the positive a axis, has the parameters 1 a, ∞b, ∞c. Inverting these
becomes 1/1,1/∞, 1/∞ to give the Miller Index (100).

Reference: Earth Materials by Hefferan and O’Brien


tulane.edu

Compiled by: Dr. MH

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