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Letter CGeology glossary

Conchoidal Fracture

Conchoidal fracture is a type of fracture that occurs in brittle materials, such as glass or quartz, where the breakage produces smooth, curved surfaces that resemble the interior of a seashell. This fracture pattern is characteristic of materials that lack natural planes of weakness, making it important in the identification of minerals and the study of material properties.

Close-up of shiny black obsidian swirls (conchoidal fracture)
Fig. 1 Close-up of shiny black obsidian swirls (conchoidal fracture)

Source Klein, C., & Hurlbut, C. S. (1999). Manual of Mineralogy. Wiley.

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