ELi5: Why does Pyrite form in perfect cubes?
In: 12
Lots of elements can form crystals or cubes in the right environment.
Lets say you have solid pyrite that is then dissolved in a liquid. If the liquid say, begins to dry up then the solids will start to come back together. IF the liquid evaporates too fast or too slow or if there are a lot of other elements in the water that are also attracted to the pyrite or if the liquid is physically disturbed during the evaporation process it will prevent the crystallization process from continuing (other elements besides pyrite will attach to it and it won’t make the same cube) and a more random molecule will form. So, pyrite under certain conditions will crystalize while under others it won’t.
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