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    Dendrites

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    Dendrites are branching, tree-like structures formed by interconnected mineral crystals. They are commonly found as inclusions in agates and other quartz minerals. Dendrites form under conditions of rapid crystallization and limited mineral availability, known as disequilibrium. The specific crystalline structure of the dendrites is determined by the mineral they are formed from, such as hexagonal shapes for ice dendrites. Modern analysis has shown that many dendrites previously thought to contain pyrolusite actually contain other manganese oxides and hydroxides. Dendrites can form on rock surfaces or during crystallization of native metals like copper, silver and gold.

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    Dendrites

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    Dendrites are branching, tree-like structures formed by interconnected mineral crystals. They are commonly found as inclusions in agates and other quartz minerals. Dendrites form under conditions of rapid crystallization and limited mineral availability, known as disequilibrium. The specific crystalline structure of the dendrites is determined by the mineral they are formed from, such as hexagonal shapes for ice dendrites. Modern analysis has shown that many dendrites previously thought to contain pyrolusite actually contain other manganese oxides and hydroxides. Dendrites can form on rock surfaces or during crystallization of native metals like copper, silver and gold.

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    Dendrites are branching, tree-like structures formed by interconnected mineral crystals. They are commonly found as inclusions in agates and other quartz minerals. Dendrites form under conditions of rapid crystallization and limited mineral availability, known as disequilibrium. The specific crystalline structure of the dendrites is determined by the mineral they are formed from, such as hexagonal shapes for ice dendrites. Modern analysis has shown that many dendrites previously thought to contain pyrolusite actually contain other manganese oxides and hydroxides. Dendrites can form on rock surfaces or during crystallization of native metals like copper, silver and gold.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    646 views10 pages

    Dendrites

    Uploaded by

    api-272563414
    Dendrites are branching, tree-like structures formed by interconnected mineral crystals. They are commonly found as inclusions in agates and other quartz minerals. Dendrites form under conditions of rapid crystallization and limited mineral availability, known as disequilibrium. The specific crystalline structure of the dendrites is determined by the mineral they are formed from, such as hexagonal shapes for ice dendrites. Modern analysis has shown that many dendrites previously thought to contain pyrolusite actually contain other manganese oxides and hydroxides. Dendrites can form on rock surfaces or during crystallization of native metals like copper, silver and gold.

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    of 10

    Dendrites

    This month’s subject is not a rock, mineral, or fossil but rather a branching, tree or
    fern like structure of interconnected crystals. Anyone who spends much time rock
    hunting in the Bighorn Basin or elsewhere in Wyoming or Montana probably will find
    a “moss agate”. These agates/chalcedonies have delicate branching inclusions that
    resemble plants. The branching structures are called dendrites. They are not organic
    (ie plants/moss) but rather small mineral crystals. In fact, dendrites are fairly
    common. Besides being inclusions in some minerals such as cryptocrystalline quartz
    (ie agate and chalcedony), dendrites of iron and manganese hydroxides can form on
    surfaces such as bedding planes and joints in limestone, granite, rhyolite, shale and
    other rocks. Dendrites also frequently develop during the crystallization of native
    metals such as copper, silver, and gold. Snowflakes show a dendritic pattern. The
    frost on your car windshields on very cold morning are ice crystals that display a
    dendritic pattern.

    Dendrites form when there is rapid crystallization and limited availability of the
    elements needed to form the mineral. Chemists refer to these conditions as
    disequilibrium. An example of this is frost on your windshield. When the moisture is
    limited, water forms quickly into small flowers of frost. However if more moisture is
    made available the crystals grow into a solid sheet of ice and the dendritic pattern is
    no longer visible. No matter what the mineral is, the dendrites form according to
    that mineral’s crystalline structure. Dendrites of snow and ice take on a hexagonal
    form while the dendrites of native silver and copper display right angles typical of
    their cubic (isometric) crystal shape.

    The dendrites in agates, chalcedony, and other varieties of cryptocrystalline quartz


    are usually manganese hydroxides or oxides. These types of dendrites are also
    found in opal and crystalline quartz. In the past, geologists and others referred to
    the mineral making up many of these dendrites as pyrolusite (a manganese oxide).
    However, infra-red spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and other modern analytical
    methods show these inclusions to be more likely other manganese oxides and
    hydroxides, like romanechite, birnessite, hollandite, todorokite, coronadite, and
    cryptomelane. Currently, there are no known manganese dendrites in the world
    which contain pyrolusite.
    See photos below

    Greg Jones 2/22/2022


    Dendritic Frost formed on a windshield in Cody on cold morning, Feb 17,
    2022. Photo by Greg L. Jones

    A dendritic snowflake displays its hexagonal crystal shape. No matter


    what the mineral is, the dendrites form according to that mineral’s
    crystalline structure. Photo by danna § curious tangles. Used under limited license (CC BY-NC-ND
    2.0)

    Greg Jones 2/22/2022


    This Dendritic crystalline native silver is
    from the Mohawk Mine in the
    Precambrian (1.05-1.06 GA) of
    Michigan. It is on Display at Seaman
    Mineral Museum, Michigan
    Technological University in Houghton,
    Michigan. Photo by James St. John Used under
    limited license Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

    Caption
    Gold dendrites with quartz on display at the Carnegie
    Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Photo by James St. John Used under limited license Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

    Greg Jones 2/22/2022


    This Dendritic native copper from the
    White Pine Mine in the Precambrian of
    Michigan is on display at the Seaman
    Mineral Museum, Michigan
    Technological University in Houghton,
    Michigan. Photo by James St. John Used under
    limited license Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

    Greg Jones 2/22/2022


    Manganese hydroxide dendrites that have grown on a limestone
    surface. Photo by Anders Sandberg
    Used under limited license Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

    Manganese dendrites in opal from Africa.


    Photo by Greg L. Jones

    Greg Jones 2/22/2022


    A slice of Montana agate ready to be worked on the
    wheel. Many rockhounds call this dendritic agate,
    “moss” agate. Photo by Stephanie Melbraaten

    The finished Montana Agate cab from slab above. Photo by Stephanie Melbraaten

    Greg Jones 2/22/2022


    Dendritic agate from Madagascar, Africa. Photo by Greg L. Jones

    Greg Jones 2/22/2022


    Dig Deeper (For more information)

    https://www.mindat.org/min-26645.html
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrite_(crystal)
    https://www.phase-trans.msm.cam.ac.uk/dendrites.html
    https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/34662/Dendrites.pdf?
    sequence=1

    Greg Jones 2/22/2022


    Greg Jones 2/22/2022
    Greg Jones 2/22/2022

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