mineral crystallization "meet cute"

While discussing about mineral crystallization and surface dissolution, my co-worker R came up with this analogy:

One particle is flying around wildly looking for another particle to bump into. When they are roaming around in solution, they're not probably not going to meet each other. But if one sits down at a park bench (a surface), there's a good chance another one is going to come by.

Come by and say hello. Picture

This is why you need a seed crystal to grow rock candy or why Kurt Vonnegut's ice-nine is genius. Devouring an entire loaf of bread from Angela's Oven while wrapping up extra-things at work- mmmm.