Trigonal (3*) Space Groups

Steven Dutch, Professor Emeritus, Natural and Applied Sciences, Universityof Wisconsin - Green Bay

To the right of each space group is a listing of coordinate points. These are thecoordinates to which a general point (x,y,z) is transformed by the space group. Origins(called "equivalent points" in the International Tables), areadditional points around which the points are transformed. For example, (0,0,0) refers toa corner of the unit cell, (1/2,1/2,1/2) to the center. All space groups have origin(0,0,0). For a space group with an additional origin (1/2,1/2,1/2), point (x,y,z) is alsotransformed to (1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2+z) and so on.

3-fold and 6-fold coordinates are tabulated with respect to axes intersecting at 60 degrees. In this oblique coordinate system, coordinates tend to be simple

162 P3*1m
(+x, +y, +z); (-y, +x-y, +z); (+y-x, -x, +z);
(-x, -y, -z); (+y, +y-x, -z); (+x-y, +x, -z);
(+y, +x, +z); (-x, +y-x, +z); (+x-y, -y, +z);
(-y, -x, -z); (+x, +x-y, -z); (+y-x, +y, -z);
 
163 P3*1c
(+x, +y, +z); (-y, +x-y, +z); (+y-x, -x, +z);
(-x, -y, -z); (+y, +y-x, -z); (+x-y, +x, -z);
(+y, +x, 1/2+z); (-x, +y-x, 1/2+z); (+x-y, -y, 1/2+z);
(-y, -x, 1/2-z); (+x, +x-y, 1/2-z); (+y-x, +y, 1/2-z);
 
164 P3*m1
(+x, +y, +z); (-y, +x-y, +z); (+y-x, -x, +z);
(-x, -y, -z); (+y, +y-x, -z); (+x-y, +x, -z);
(-y, -x, +z); (+x, +x-y, +z); (+y-x, +y, +z);
(+y, +x, -z); (-x, +y-x, -z); (+x-y, -y, -z);
 
165 P3*c1
(+x, +y, +z); (-y, +x-y, +z); (+y-x, -x, +z);
(-x, -y, -z); (+y, +y-x, -z); (+x-y, +x, -z);
(-y, -x, 1/2+z); (+x, +x-y, 1/2+z); (+y-x, +y, 1/2+z);
(+y, +x, 1/2-z); (-x, +y-x, 1/2-z); (+x-y, -y, 1/2-z);

 

Rhombohedra are cubes distorted along one of the three fold axes. Coordinates for rhombohedral symmetries can be described in terms of the rhombohedral cell edges or with respect to the threefold symmetry axis system. Coordinates here are given with respect to the threefold symmetry axis system.

166 R3*m (3-fold axis)
Origins (0,0,0);  (1/3, 2/3, 2/3);  (2/3, 1/3, 1/3); 
(+x, +y, +z); (-y, +x-y, +z);  (+y-x, -x, +z);
(-x, -y, -z); (+y, +y-x, -z);  (+x-y, +x, -z);
(-y, -x, +z); (+x, +x-y, +z); (+y-x, +y, +z);
(+y, +x, -z); (-x, +y-x, -z); (+x-y, -y, -z);
167 R3*c (3-fold axis)
Origins (0,0,0);  (1/3, 2/3, 2/3);  (2/3, 1/3, 1/3); 
(+x, +y, +z); (-y, +x-y, +z);
(+y-x, -x, +z);
(-x, -y, -z); (+y, +y-x, -z);
(+x-y, +x, -z);
(-y, -x, 1/2+z); (+x, +x-y, 1/2+z);
(+y-x, +y, 1/2+z);
(+y, +x, 1/2-z); (-x, +y-x, 1/2-z);
(+x-y, -y, 1/2-z);

Return to Symmetry Index
Return to 3d-Space Groups Index
Return to Crustal Materials (Mineralogy-petrology) Index

Return to Professor Dutch's Home Page

Created 13 October 1999, Last Update 11 June 2020