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Glite Dictionary
subhedral

subhedral

9.9
A mineral crystal that has some natural flat sides but not all of them
  • adjective
  • /sʌbˈhiːdrəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : subhedral
  • Most crystals in the sample were subhedral, showing only some natural faces.

Examples

  • The geologist identified several subhedral grains in the thin section of the rock.

  • Under the microscope, the mineral appeared subhedral rather than perfectly shaped.

  • The subhedral crystals were found in the newly discovered mine.

  • Many subhedral forms can be identified in this mineral sample.

  • Under the microscope, the mineral appeared subhedral rather than perfectly shaped.

  • Most crystals in the sample were subhedral, showing only some natural faces.

  • The geologist identified several subhedral grains in the thin section of the rock.

How Well-Formed

euhedral
  • Specialized
9.9
subhedral
  • Specialized
9.9
anhedral
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

subhedral positive

Morphology

subhedral = hedron (semi-transparent) = sub + hedral

The prefix 'sub-' contributes 'somewhat/partly' to a combining form meaning 'face' or 'seat', but 'hedral' is a technical combining form rather than a standalone word, so learners may not fully infer the precise mineralogical sense.

Etymology

Subhedral breaks into sub- and -hedral; sub- means 'under' or 'not fully' and -hedral comes from a word for the 'faces' of a shape, as in polyhedron. So a subhedral crystal has only some natural 'faces', not all the perfect ones.