The estimation of the distorted crystal symmetry (renewed Shafranowsky’s method)

When crystal faces grow unequally, the crystal symmetry distorts and generally decreases. According to the Curie dissymmetry principle this distrortion can provide useful information about the conditions of crystal formation. The estimation of the distorted symmetry is a separate problem, and the accuracy of its solution affects the correct conclusions. One of the methods to evaluate distorted symmetry was proposed by I. I. Shafranovsky half century ago. It consists in comparing the areas of the crystal faces that transform into each other during symmetric transformations. Unfortunately, this method, maybe for its methodological complexity, did not receive due attention then. Modern computer capacities allow us to reanimate it. In this paper the first results on the modernization of I. I. Shafranovsky’s method are presented.