A polymorph of a mineral has the same chemical composition as the mineral, but a different atomic structures By having a different atomic structure, it means that a mineral is more stable in different conditions For example stishovite has an atomic structure which is much denser than the atomic structure of quartz This means that is more stable than quartz in high pressure conditions
polymorphs
Etymologie
[ 'pä-lE-"morf ] (noun.) circa 1828. International Scientific Vocabulary.