Understanding Why Minerals Lack Cleavage: Bonding, Structure, And Identification Clues
Minerals lack cleavage due to structural and bonding characteristics. Close-packed structures, such as cubic close-packed (CCP) and hexagonal close-packed (HCP), have densely packed atoms that prevent cleavage. Strong ionic or covalent bonds hinder atoms from sliding past each other. Rapid cooling can result in weaker crystals with reduced cleavage. Understanding these factors is crucial for mineral identification as cleavage provides valuable clues about a mineral’s internal structure and bonding.
