Hydrothermal Growth of Beryl Single Crystals and Morphology of Their Singular Faces

摘要

The surface morphology of the best developed faces of emerald and red beryl single crystals grown from high-temperature hydrothermal solutions has been studied by atomic force microscopy. The results attest to dislocation-mediated layer-by-layer growth of the faces. Using experimentally determined growth front profiles, the fractal dimensions D_(Fp) and D_(Fa) of the faces are evaluated to be 1.1-1.4. These values indicate that the surfaces studied have a fractal character and can be investigated using elements of fractal theory.