Minerals are natural crystalline substances; their atoms and molecules form regular patterns that result in six fundamental forms, such as the hexagonal crystal form we see in snowflakes. Glasses, in contrast, are amorphous substances; their atoms are jumbled together without a distinct pattern. The sizes of mineral crystals are dependent on the amount of matter available and the time of growth. Short growth times produce smaller mineral crystals than longer growth times. You can probably guess that glasses, with no crystal growth, form relatively fast, that is, without enough time for molecules to line up in regular patterns.
Of the approximately 3,000 kinds of minerals some are valued highly, such as diamond, ruby, and sapphire. The minerals we value highly do not, however, differ from those we find valueless in one important property: Underlying patterns of atoms and molecules. All glasses also share an underlying property: Chaos among constituent atoms and molecules.
Aren’t some people just like minerals? They have an underlying predictable structure of certain personality components that outwardly manifest their internal patterns just like snowflakes and diamonds and that we find either valuable or valueless. And aren’t others just like glasses. Deep down they are jumbles, never capable of pulling it all together to make a consistent, identifiable form.
This is not a judgment. Maybe being a glass is better than being a crystal. I’m not sure. You decide.
Of the approximately 3,000 kinds of minerals some are valued highly, such as diamond, ruby, and sapphire. The minerals we value highly do not, however, differ from those we find valueless in one important property: Underlying patterns of atoms and molecules. All glasses also share an underlying property: Chaos among constituent atoms and molecules.
Aren’t some people just like minerals? They have an underlying predictable structure of certain personality components that outwardly manifest their internal patterns just like snowflakes and diamonds and that we find either valuable or valueless. And aren’t others just like glasses. Deep down they are jumbles, never capable of pulling it all together to make a consistent, identifiable form.
This is not a judgment. Maybe being a glass is better than being a crystal. I’m not sure. You decide.
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