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Louise Dawe @louisedawe.bsky.social · 49m

Copper is my fav element, but for #MinCup26 final, I am team #Quartz! Pilati used its vibrational spectra to calculate how atoms move in its framework at room temperature. Quartz turns atomic motion into measurable behaviour. Read the @actacrystb.iucr.org study: journals.iucr.org/paper?cr0463=

journals.iucr.org

Thermal parameters for α-quartz: a lattice-dynamical calculation

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ChukG @chukg.bsky.social · 38m

I voted for #quartz of course! How could I not? #MinCup26

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 39m

Llegó la tan ansiada final de #MinCup26 Cuprita vs a Cuarzo. Cu2O vs SiO2. Un mineral poco resistente a la oxidación pero con estructura intrincada vs el mineral omnipresente en la corteza terrestre de cristales quirales y muchos polimorfos. Votá Cuarzo campeón www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

mineralcup.org

Vote in Finals — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Cuprite vs Quartz Credit: Tony Peterson and Harold Moritz

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 1h

#MinCup26 FINALS!!! We have a pair of geometric beauties as deep red #Cuprite is against versatile #Quartz. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split image of fine red needles of cuprite on one side and chunky clear quartz crystals on the other.

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Mike Glazer @glazer1.bsky.social · 7h

For those interested in cryocrystallography I have written an article for the @IUCr newsletter on the history of the Cryostream. See www.iucr.org/news/newslet....

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Louise Dawe @louisedawe.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I’m team #Quartz all the way in #MinCup26! Under pressure, its SiO₂ framework does not simply shrink: Si–O–Si bridges flex and SiO₄ tetrahedra distort. d’Amour, Denner and Schulz reveal this structural resilience in their 1979 @actacrystb.iucr.org classic: journals.iucr.org/paper?a17323=

journals.iucr.org

Structure determination of α-quartz up to 68 x 108 Pa

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Owen Missen @scimissionowen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Ten years after Mineral Cup began, the mineral that began it all, quartz, is into the semi finals. Quartz is the most common SiO2 polymorph, but there are 8 other known polymorphs of SiO2 (cristobalite, tridymite, coesite, lechatelierite, moganite, seifertite, stishovite and xiexiandeite).

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Cian 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (he/him) @cbdawson.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

These photos are appalling. It should be a violation of game rules for competing contestants to fraternize like this 🤣😆🙈

Screenshot of Mincup showing photos of graphite & quartz in the same hand sample.

Caption:
Left: Graphite inclusions and bubble within a water pocket within a double-terminated quartz crystal. Credit: Robert M. Lavinsky.
Center: Graphite and quartz intermixed from Connecticut. Credit: Harold Moritz.
Right. Hexagonal graphite crystal within a quartz crystal. Ferdinando Giovine (right)

Text:
Both quartz and graphite can form in the same kinds of rocks, either entangled together or with graphite as an inclusion within quartz. This gradient most often in hydrothermal fluid. As the fluids cool, carbon precipitates out first as graphite with silica crystallizing into clear quartz crystals around it.

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Lauren the Flute @laurentheflute.bsky.social · 20h

I love graphite SO much. BUT not as much as I love quartz. I really think this is quartz's year, and I think we need this. In a time of fear, pain, and uncertainty, let's celebrate the joy and wonder of being a kid falling in love with rocks and minerals for the first time. #teamquartz as always

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Canageek @canageek.bsky.social · 20h

How did it come down to the two WORST minerals? Quartz: Scratches my sample holders up, shows up like stink in mineral samples making it hard to see the other phases Graphite: SUPER slippery, slides out of the sample holder and contaminates other samples, pain to clean up #MineralCup #PXRD

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Philip Amies @philipamies.eurosky.social · 13h

I voted quartz, graphite is an interesting and useful mineral, but quartz is both a beautiful crystal form in varied colours, and a major component of rocks (igneous and sedimentary), also beaches, dunes and heaths. Piezoelectric properties are cool.

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Mika McKinnon @mikamckinnon.bsky.social · 9h

I have so much more to write about #graphite! But it’s all so weird & new to me that confirming I’ve gotten it right is A Task. But if #quartz wins today and again tomorrow, I never need to write about it again… (It’s legit a cool mineral, but it’s been 10 years.) #MinCup26 choices!

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International Centre for Diffraction Data @icdd.bsky.social · 10h

September's PDF Entry of the Month: Pyridine Ethylenediamine Silicon Oxide 00-075-0906. This month includes a 3D structure, SAED and EBSD extensions, and more. Visit www.icdd.com/interactive-pdf and click the icons to explore the features this interactive PDF offers! #chemsky

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 14h

En la 2da semifinal de #MinCup26 se enfrentan Cuarzo y Grafito. Dos de los minerales más útiles que conocemos pero más opuestos imposible Votá: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Yo voto Cuarzo porque sus cristales son lo primero que viene a la mente cuando alguien nombra un cristal.

mineralcup.org

Vote in Semifinals 2 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Quartz vs Graphite Credit: Harold Moritz and John A. Jaszczak

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#MinCup26 Semifinal 2 It’s a match sure to break hearts between industrial powerhouses piezoelectric #quartz and lubricating #graphite! (With the correct links this time!) VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split photo between a pair of glassy-clear terminated quartz crystals and flaky blades of dark grey graphite at odd angles to each other, with green crystals around them.

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International Centre for Diffraction Data @icdd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Periodic Table Searches Just Got Faster - New bitmask fields dramatically speed up periodic table searches, cutting some search times from 17 seconds down to just 1. www.icdd.com/new-capabilities/ #PowderDiffraction #DataScience #XRD

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 29/09/2026

En la 1a semifinal de #MinCup26 Cuprita enfrenta a Halita. Cu2O vs NaCl Se vota aquí: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Yo voté Halita porque la cuprita ya llegó a una fase de #MinCup26 más que lo que su química, color y utilidad le podrían dar. Halita a la final de #MinCup26 🤞🏻

mineralcup.org

Vote in Semifinals 1 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Cuprite vs Halite Credit: Gianandrea Ghirri and John Kygier

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#MinCup26 SEMI-FINALS!!! It's showdown of the soft and cubical as coppery #Cuprite and salty #Halite compete for a spot in the finals! Both are worthy, but only one can have your vote. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split photo of a translucent deep red cube of cuprite within swooping matte blue-green crystal blades and a scattering of translucent white halite cubes in a nest of golden yellow spiky crystals.

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 28/09/2026

En el último juego de 4tos de #MinCup26 se enfrentan Pyromorfita y Grafito. Plomo contra carbono. Elementos insustituíbles para la tecnología actual aunque el primero también peligroso. Votá: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Yo voy por el grafito.

mineralcup.org

Vote in Quarterfinals 4 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Pyromorphite vs Graphite Credit: Pedro Alves and Harold Moritz

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#MinCup26 Quarterfinal 4 We're coming down the end! Are you supporting lead-locking #pyromorphite or ancient #graphite as we enter the semifinals. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split view of blobby peach-tinted pyromorphite shining as though wet, and dark grey graphite with its signature greasy sheen sitting on paper marked with pencil-like scribbles.

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 27/09/2026

En el 3er juego de cuartos de #MinCup26 se enfrentan Julianita y Halita. Una disputa difícil porque Julianita es el único mineral conocido con el anión tiocianato mientras que halita es el mineral más conocido NaCl que la gente ni sabe es un mineral... www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Yo NaCl

mineralcup.org

Vote in Quarterfinal 3 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Julienite vs Halite Credit: Brent Thorne and Sergio Fabris

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Louise Dawe @louisedawe.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I’m voting #Halite in the #MinCup26 quarter-finals! The familiar NaCl lattice has another life in hydrohalite, NaCl·2H₂O, where water reshapes it into a distinct crystal structure. Check out Klewe and Pedersen’s classic @actacrystb.iucr.org determination: journals.iucr.org/paper?a11282=

journals.iucr.org

The crystal structure of sodium chloride dihydrate

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#MinCup26 Quarterfinals 3 It's a pair of dissolvable beauties as rare and complicated #Julienite is against ubiquitous and straightforward #Halite. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split photo of close-ups of minerals bright blue julienite in radiating fan shapes within a dark rock and clear perfect cubes of halite suspended in clear liquid, tiny bubbles hanging onto some of the crystals

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Vicky Veritas @vickyveritas.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#MinCup26 ⚒️ sci-fi 🧪 🖖🏼 scifi Geosciences #WomenInSTEM geology #geosky #GIS 🍎 🪐 🔭 🌋 📚 🌿

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Saavik ‘Careful of the Ankle’ Ford @saavikford.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#Quartz! #Quartz! #Quartz! It’s clear! It’s colorful! It’s everywhere! #MinCup26

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Helen MC @crystallised-cricket.com · 26/09/2026

As some of us in Aus settle in for the Grand Final, as a Hawthorn fan I'm more focused on the Quarter Final of #MinCup26. From a crystal structure view battle of octahedra coordination within #Skutterudite vs tetrahedral coordination within #Quartz. Tough call today, but #Quartz gets the call.

Image of the crystal structure of Skutterudite viewed along its c axis. Cobalt, Iron and Nickle positions are represented by blue spheres/polygons (they all sit in the same position and occupy that at some time or another), Arsenic by green spheres. Drawn from entry #9417 in the American mineral database

Image representing the crystal structure of quartz- here red spheres represent oxygen atoms, and blue spheres/polygons represent silicon atoms. The structure has been expanded over b axis to show off quite how really basic it is. Yes it is piezoelectric, but don't let that sway you. The representation is drawn in VESTA from entry #789 in the American mineralogist database

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Brandon Bishop @brandontbishop.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Vote Quartz, it's the clear choice. #MinCup26

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Kepler 🍁ΘΔ @andromedaphoenix.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

When you call quartz basic, you sound like those people that complain about pop music and act like they're not gonna groove when Uptown Funk comes on :) #TeamQuartz #MinCup26

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Brandon Bishop @brandontbishop.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Ok, so, why vote #Quartz? #MinCup26 Because it's an absolute weirdo that if you squeeze generates electricity, and if you expose it to electricity acts like you've squeezed it. This led to quartz being used for the first sonar systems. Learn more about this effect and quartz's role in its use here

aps.org

This Month In Physics History

APS Archives

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 26/09/2026

Hoy es el 2do juego de 4tos de final de #MinCup26 y se enfrentan Skutterudita y Cuarzo. Es un enfrentamiento entre otro mineral raro y uno de los más frecuentes de la corteza terrestre. Votá acá: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Yo voy por el Cuarzo hasta la victoria.

mineralcup.org

Vote in Quarterfinal 2 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Skutterudite vs Quartz Credit: Joel Williams

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#MinCup26 Quarterfinal 2 Both of today's minerals can be found in hydrothermal vein deposits as cobalt arsenide #Skutterudite is against classic silicate #Quartz for a spot in the semi-finals. Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Results: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

mineralcup.org

Vote in Quarterfinal 2 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Skutterudite vs Quartz Credit: Joel Williams

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International Centre for Diffraction Data @icdd.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The application deadline for the 2027 Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship is approaching! The 2027 Scholarship awards will be $3,000 each and include a one-year subscription to the PDF-5+ 2027 database. Applications close 8 October 2026. Apply today! www.icdd.com/ludo-frevel-scholarship #chemsky

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 25/09/2026

En el primer encuentro de cuartos de final de #MinCu26 Sfalerita (ZnS) va contra Cuprita (Cu2O). Es una lucha de rojos brillantes. Vota aquí: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Yo voté por la Sfalerita porque siempre me llamaron la atención los compuestos que liberan H2S (olor a huevo podrido).

mineralcup.org

Vote in Quarterfinal 1 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Sphalerite vs Cuprite Credit: Gianandrea Ghirri and Jose CO / yotta photograpy

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#MinCup26 Quarterfinal 1 It’s a rich red start to the quarterfinals as two components of brass face off with zinc ore #Sphalerite is up against copper-rich #Cuprite. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split photo of a glossy ruby-red chunk of sphalerite, slightly rounded, amongst smaller clear crystals and a gleaming ruby-red cube of cuprite jutting from a yellow matrix.

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International Centre for Diffraction Data @icdd.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

ICDD is pleased to introduce a new resource on icdd.com. This comprehensive overview covers the technique's fundamentals, from Bragg's Law and diffractometer geometry to phase identification, crystallinity, and structure refinement. See it at www.icdd.com/powderdiffraction #chemsky

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#MinCup26 Round 2 Match 7 It's blue skies ahead as multicoloured cubes of #Halite are up against the bubbly cool-toned #Chrysocolla. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split photo of seafoam green minerals. One one side, translucent sea foam-green cubes on a crust of milky-white crystals. On the other, bobby aqua-green milky-translucent crystals perched on a grainy grassy-green base rock

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International Centre for Diffraction Data @icdd.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Pin favorite searches to the top of the recent searches menu for quick, one-click access. A small workflow upgrade, big time savings. www.icdd.com/new-capabilities/ #XRD #Crystallography #ResearchTools

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Simon Edmonds @sjsedmonds.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

The Daily Mail is starting a Defeating Dementia campaign along with the Alzheimer's Society. This can only be good news for dementia sufferers and their carers. @dailymail.co.uk @alzheimerssoc.bsky.social Here is link to article www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic...

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Mercedes Huertas Aguilera @mha64.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Detrás de cada diagnóstico hay una vida, una historia, una familia.

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 22/09/2026

En el 6to Match de dieciseisavos de final se enfrentan Piromorfita contra Cilindrita. Ambos minerales densos conteniendo plomo y otros metales. Votá acá; www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Yo voté contra cilindrita porque láminas nanométicas de átomos que se enrollan no es típicamente muy cristal.

mineralcup.org

Vote in Round 2 Match 6 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Pyromorphite vs Cylindrite Credit: Glanfranco Ciccolini and Chris Emproto

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

#MinCup26 Round 2 Match 6: It's a pair of soft, heavy lead minerals as vivid hexagonal phosphate #Pyromorphite is against spiralling rolled sheets of #Cylindrite. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split photo of clusters of small green puffball-spiked lime green pyromorphite clusters on a rusty-red rough porous rock and Metallic grey fibrous sheets and swirls of cylindric that resemble pencil shavings more than a mineral

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LeSuPer @lesuper.bsky.uy · 21/09/2026

En el 5to juego de octavos de #MinCup26 se enfrentan Putnisita y Julienita, dos minerales muy raros y escasos. Uno carbonato-sulfato de estroncio y cromo el otro un sulfocianuro de sodio y cobalto ambos hidratados. Votá aquí: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Yo voyé Julienita porque 🫶🏻 SCN

mineralcup.org

Vote in Round 2 Match 5 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Putnisite vs Julienite Credit: Andre Robbemond and Michael J Pabst

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

#MinCup26 Round 2 Match 5 It's a pair or rare, vibrant minerals with unusual chemistry as purple #Putnisite is up against blue #Julienite. VOTE: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... RESULTS: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re...

Split photo of tiny grape-jello purple cubical crystals with a rough surface. The crystals are poking out of a massive rough rock with areas of fuzzy green and broad purple, all with a grainy coating of white as though it were rubbed with flour. The other photo is saturated cobalt blue needle-line crystals in a narrow fan sparkly and rough on a smooth creamy background

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Aleta @aletamosquito.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#Quartz seems to be doing well in today's #MinCup26 matchup. There's still time though, so if you haven't done your part for #TeamQuartz, go vote! (Also go vote if you want that other mineral to win; just know that you're wrong for it. 😜)

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Kerstin Neuhaus @microtopico.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I decided to be a #Quartz Fan Account this year. Huge crystals, so many colors and so many useful applications 🥰 #MinCup26

A large clear Quartz crystal found in the collection of the Institute of Mineralogy in Münster.

Violet amethyst and small white, idiomorphic Quartz crystal.

Two rosy, idiomorphic Quartz crystals I found in the Sauerland region in Germany.

A large, slightly yellowish Quartz crystal found in the collection of the Institute of Mineralogy in Münster

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