Cubic crystal system

A rock containing three crystals of pyrite

In crystallography, the cubic crystal system is a crystal system where the unit cell is in the shape of a cube. This is one of the most common and simplest shapes found in crystals and minerals.

There are three main types of these crystals:

  • Primitive cubic
  • Body-centered cubic
  • Face-centered cubic

Types

Name Description Picture
Primitive cubic One atom at each corner of the cube.  
Body-centered cubic One atom at each corner of the cube, and one in the middle of the cube.  
Face-centered cubic One atom at each corner of the cube, and one in the middle of each face (side) of the cube.