Six of Spades
This is a snowflake with a simple outer pattern, but one with hidden complexities ready to be revealed. These are the sorts of details that I worked for 10 months to produce into the snowflake ornaments currently being crowd-funded.
Want the most realistic snowflake possible as a Christmas ornament on your tree this year, or to give as gift? Check this out – less than a week to go! www.indiegogo.com/projects/snowflake-ornaments-by-don-kom...
I was saving this snowflake for the start of the Snowflake-a-Day project which begins on December 1st, but it’s a perfect fit for what’s going on now! This is a split crystal with some interesting growth dynamics to dive into!
A “split crystal” is one that begins its life as a column, but shifts into plate-like growth as the temperature cools. This creates hexagonal plates on the ends of the column. This kind of growth can result in gem-like central features if one plate grows out faster than the other (each competing for water vapour in either side of the column, one winning on all sides) or a split design like we see here… though the battle wasn’t cleanly won or lost.
The bottom plate won the fight for the top branch and the top-left branch. These two are growing underneath the other four branches, which can be seen if you look closely at the center and notice how the lines are divided. Usually, when one corner of a plate “wins” over the other, the fight is over in a heartbeat… but look a little closer here. While the top plate won the fight for the top-right and all the lower branches, there are signs that it wasn’t an easy victory.
The lower plate has a branch in the lower right, hiding behind the top branch. It’s not hard to see, due to its higher contrast lines on the ridges and ribs. Very careful inspection will identify signs of this on the lower left as well. If two corners of these plates maintained equal growth over a longer period of time – which is very unlikely – we see this as the result. An unlikely snowflake!
But why are the features of the bottom snowflake more contrasty than the top snowflake? It has to do with what side the surface details and topography are located on. Fun fact: the surface details on a snowflake are only ever on one side. The other side is largely smooth, maybe with some subtle rings caused by inward crystal growth. The bottom plate (top and top left branches) has its details facing the camera, while the top plate (all other branches) has its details on the backside of the crystal, which is why the lines are more muted; these details are only seen through the reflective back surface, making them softer.
Is it a symmetrically balanced beautiful creation of nature than fell from the sky? Absolutely. The depth of details is almost endless, however. These complex structures only become more beautiful the more you understand them, which is what this post was intended to do. :)
If you want to examine this “split crystal” phenomenon first-hand, there is one branch on the model used to create this year’s snowflake ornament that has inverted features. The reason is different, but the logic is the same: different planes often have opposing features. Put one of these on your Christmas tree and make it a conversation piece: www.indiegogo.com/projects/snowflake-ornaments-by-don-kom... - you won’t be disappointed.
Six of Spades
This is a snowflake with a simple outer pattern, but one with hidden complexities ready to be revealed. These are the sorts of details that I worked for 10 months to produce into the snowflake ornaments currently being crowd-funded.
Want the most realistic snowflake possible as a Christmas ornament on your tree this year, or to give as gift? Check this out – less than a week to go! www.indiegogo.com/projects/snowflake-ornaments-by-don-kom...
I was saving this snowflake for the start of the Snowflake-a-Day project which begins on December 1st, but it’s a perfect fit for what’s going on now! This is a split crystal with some interesting growth dynamics to dive into!
A “split crystal” is one that begins its life as a column, but shifts into plate-like growth as the temperature cools. This creates hexagonal plates on the ends of the column. This kind of growth can result in gem-like central features if one plate grows out faster than the other (each competing for water vapour in either side of the column, one winning on all sides) or a split design like we see here… though the battle wasn’t cleanly won or lost.
The bottom plate won the fight for the top branch and the top-left branch. These two are growing underneath the other four branches, which can be seen if you look closely at the center and notice how the lines are divided. Usually, when one corner of a plate “wins” over the other, the fight is over in a heartbeat… but look a little closer here. While the top plate won the fight for the top-right and all the lower branches, there are signs that it wasn’t an easy victory.
The lower plate has a branch in the lower right, hiding behind the top branch. It’s not hard to see, due to its higher contrast lines on the ridges and ribs. Very careful inspection will identify signs of this on the lower left as well. If two corners of these plates maintained equal growth over a longer period of time – which is very unlikely – we see this as the result. An unlikely snowflake!
But why are the features of the bottom snowflake more contrasty than the top snowflake? It has to do with what side the surface details and topography are located on. Fun fact: the surface details on a snowflake are only ever on one side. The other side is largely smooth, maybe with some subtle rings caused by inward crystal growth. The bottom plate (top and top left branches) has its details facing the camera, while the top plate (all other branches) has its details on the backside of the crystal, which is why the lines are more muted; these details are only seen through the reflective back surface, making them softer.
Is it a symmetrically balanced beautiful creation of nature than fell from the sky? Absolutely. The depth of details is almost endless, however. These complex structures only become more beautiful the more you understand them, which is what this post was intended to do. :)
If you want to examine this “split crystal” phenomenon first-hand, there is one branch on the model used to create this year’s snowflake ornament that has inverted features. The reason is different, but the logic is the same: different planes often have opposing features. Put one of these on your Christmas tree and make it a conversation piece: www.indiegogo.com/projects/snowflake-ornaments-by-don-kom... - you won’t be disappointed.