Cristobalite vs Tridymite - What's the difference?
cristobalite | tridymite |
(mineral) A mineral of volcanic rocks that solidified at a high temperature. Cristobalite is chemically identical to quartz, with the chemical formula Si]][[oxygen, O2, but has a different crystal structure. Crystals are always microscopic, and usually form small rounded masses.
(mineralogy) A rare mineral of volcanic rocks that solidified at a high temperature, with the chemical composition silicon dioxide, Si]][[oxygen, O2. Tridymite is chemically identical to quartz, but has a different crystal structure. Sometimes contains sodium aluminum silicate, which seems to be expelled when quartz solidifies at lower temperatures.