Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2013
This paper describes a straightforward method for the identification of the Miller indices associated with the face of a crystal of low symmetry. The method relies on orienting a crystal face parallel to the sample holder in the goniometer of a powder diffractometer. An intense diffractogram resulting from a single family of lattice planes parallel to the crystal face is obtained. The application of silicon powder to the surface of the crystal provides a means to correct 2Θ values for any misalignment of the crystal face. Calculated 2Θ and intensity values are used to assign the reflections from the corrected single-crystal diffractogram to a particular set of related lattice planes. In this paper are listed the corrected experimental 2Θ and intensity values for a particular face of a large single crystal of monoclinic hydroxylapatite and the theoretical 2Θ and intensity values for the h00 set of planes. Comparison of these parameters leads to the unambiguous assignment of that particular crystal face to the h00 Miller index.