In
mineralogy,
crystal habit is the characteristic external shape of an individual
crystal or crystal group. A single crystal's habit is a description of its general shape and its
crystallographic forms, plus how well developed each are. Recognizing the habit may help in identifying a
mineral. When the faces are well-developed due to uncrowded growth a crystal is called
euhedral, one with partially developed faces is
subhedral, and one with undeveloped crystal faces is called
anhedral. The long axis of a euhedral quartz crystal typically has a six-sided prismatic habit with parallel opposite faces. Aggregates can be formed of individual crystals with euhedral to anhedral grains. The arrangement of crystals within the aggregate can be characteristic of certain minerals. For example, minerals used for
asbestos insulation often grow in a fibrous habit, a mass of very fine fibers.