habit

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habit The development of an individual crystal, or aggregate of crystals, to produce a particular external shape, with development depending on the conditions obtaining during formation. Individual crystals may possess habits such as acicular (needlelike), tabular (broad and flat), fibrous (hairlike), or prismatic (elongated in one direction). Aggregates of crystals may possess habits such as botryoidal, dendritic, or reniform (kidney-shaped).

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