Here's why:
* Nucleation: Mineral growth starts with the formation of a tiny, stable cluster of atoms called a nucleus. This nucleus serves as a seed crystal.
* Crystal Growth: Once the seed crystal forms, additional atoms from the surrounding solution or melt attach themselves to the crystal's surface. This process continues, causing the crystal to grow larger.
Think of it like this:
Imagine a snowflake. It doesn't just appear out of thin air. It starts as a tiny ice crystal (the seed crystal) and then other water molecules attach to it, forming the beautiful, intricate snowflake we see.
So, whether the mineral is forming from a solution, magma, or even in a laboratory, the fundamental process of mineral growth involves atoms adding themselves to an existing seed crystal.
