Click on the links below to view animations created specifically for Earth: Portrait of a Planet.
Animations require Macromedia's Flash Plug-in.

Mineral Growth

Minerals grow outward from a central seed to fill the available space; their shape is controlled by the shape of their surroundings. After the animation is complete, click and drag each crystal to reveal its individual shape.

Additional Resources

The abundance of geology-related websites speaks to the active and exciting nature of this field. In the space below we link to external websites that explore topics covered in this chapter.

These links are selected carefully and updated regularly; however, their contents may change over time. Please click here to report a bad or missing link.

» Search for specific topics » Browse the Link Library

	The Dynamic Earth: Rocks and Mining 12/20/2004 Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
		This online gallery features interactive exhibits about rocks found at and below Earth's surface, and about mining. Their searchable GeoGallery database offers images and information on gems, minerals, rocks, volcanoes, and meteorites.

	Crystallization Animation 4/22/2005 Declan DePaor, ScienceProf.com
		This animation shows the progressive growth and interlocking of mineral crystals as they cool from a melt. It illustrates how some minerals interfere with the growth of other crystals.