Most minerals occur naturally as crystals. This is because in order to readily show their geometric form and flat surfaces, crystals need ideal growing conditions and room to grow. When many different crystals grow near each other, they mesh together to form a conglomerated mass.

Some crystals have the shape of cubes. Others look like flat boxes or rectangles on end. Still, others have the shape of six-sided boxes. Minerals occur in a variety of crystal shapes.

Crystal form refers to the geometric shape of mineral crystals. Crystal form is caused by the symmetrical, three-dimensional arrangement of atoms inside the mineral. The arrangement of atoms in a mineral controls the shape of the mineral.

Minerals come in many different sizes and shapes. All minerals are unique in their own way, but they all have something in common. Minerals are classified in 7 different ways. Their color, luster, streak, cleavage and fracture hardness, density, and special properties identify them.

Georgius Agricola is considered the ‘father of mineralogy’.

Jericho, located in the West Bank region of the Middle East, is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the planet.

Byblos, a once groovy Mediterranean resort in Lebanon, is possibly the first Phoenician city, founded in 7000BC – not as old as Jericho, maybe, but at least it can claim continuous habitation since 5,000 BC. Damascus was once a (largely) undisputed shoo-in for oldest city.

Byblos was the ancient Phoenician port city of Gebal (called Byblos by the Greeks) on the coast of the Mediterranean sea in what is, today, Lebanon. Byblos is among the cities listed as candidates for the distinction of ‘oldest city in the world’ as it has been continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years.

Mons Libanus

Carlos Slim

Lebanese, regardless of the region or religion sect, are predominantly native Levantine rather than Arab ancestrally. Recent studies show that the majority of the Lebanese people’s genetic makeup today is shared with that of Phoenician and Canaanite peoples native to the area, the ancestors of the Lebanese people.

Byblos, modern Jbail, also spelled Jubayl, or Jebeil, biblical Gebal, ancient seaport, the site of which is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about 20 miles (30 km) north of the modern city of Beirut, Lebanon. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world.

“Behold, I will liken you to a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and forest shade” (Ezekiel 31:3) “I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars” (Amos 2:9) “The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.” (Psalm 104:16 NRSV)

Hebrew Bible/Old Testament 49:13) It was the first home of the Phoenicians on the coast of Canaan, and from its extensive commercial relations became a “great” city (Joshua 11:8; 19:28). It was the mother city of Tyre. It lay within the lot of the tribe of Asher, but was never subdued (Judges 1:31).

As a geographic term, the description “Holy Land” loosely encompasses modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, western Jordan and south-western Syria.

Israel