Editing Cubic crystal system (section)

{{short description|Crystallographic system where the unit cell is in the shape of a cube}}
[[File:Pyrite_Cubes.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A rock containing three crystals of [[pyrite]] (FeS<sub>2</sub>). The crystal structure of pyrite is primitive cubic, and this is reflected in the cubic symmetry of its natural [[facet|crystal facets]].]]
[[File:Kubisches_Kristallsystem.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A network model of a primitive cubic system]]
[[File:FCC_primative-cubic_cells.svg|thumb|right|200px|The primitive and cubic close-packed (also known as face-centered cubic) unit cells]]
In [[crystallography]], the '''cubic''' (or '''isometric''') '''crystal system''' is a [[crystal system]] where the [[Crystal structure#Unit cell|unit cell]] is in the shape of a [[cube]]. This is one of the most common and simplest shapes found in [[crystal]]s and [[mineral]]s.

There are three main varieties of these crystals:
*'''Primitive cubic''' (abbreviated ''cP'' and alternatively called '''simple cubic''')
*'''Body-centered cubic''' (abbreviated ''cI'' or '''bcc''')
*'''Face-centered cubic''' (abbreviated ''cF'' or '''fcc''')
Note: the term '''fcc''' is often used in synonym for the [[Close-packing of equal spheres|''cubic close-packed'']] or '''ccp''' structure occurring in metals. However, '''fcc''' stands for a face-centered cubic Bravais lattice, which is not necessarily close-packed when a motif is set onto the lattice points. E.g. the diamond and the zincblende lattices are '''fcc''' but not close-packed.
Each is subdivided into other variants listed below. Although the ''unit cells'' in these crystals are conventionally taken to be cubes, the [[primitive cell|primitive unit cell]]s often are not.