| Abstract: | Results of detailed microtopographical studies on prism faces of a large number of natural and hydrothermally grown quartz crystals are described, illustrated and discussed. In the light of these results distinction between prism faces of the two varieties of quartz is assessed. Horizontal striations, parallelogram shaped and low angle tetrahedral growth pyramids are reported as characteristic features on prism faces of natural quartz crystals, whereas hexagonal and square shaped pyramids are shown to be characteristic features on prism faces of cultured quartz crystals. Evidence of independent growth on prism faces of both the varieties of quartz crystals are given. A wide variety of growth forms, like oriented snail shaped hillocks, pentagonal elevations, rectangular spiral patterns, screw ledges, missile-like structures, influence of impurities on advancing growth fronts, microdiscs patterns and etch patterns due to chemical etching are explained. |
