The aphorism “there are no two snowflakes exactly alike” is true of any crystal morphology for every mineral crystal (yes, ice is a mineral specie). There are no crystals exactly alike. Ever. Regardless of mineral specie.

In this aspect, snowflakes are not unique in nature. There is nothing special about “no two snowflakes are exactly alike.” It’s the same as saying “no two emerald crystals are exactly alike” or “no two azurite crystals are exactly alike” or “no two cuproskoldowskite crystals are exactly alike” or “no two dickite crystals are exactly alike” or “no two beaverite crystals are exactly alike” or “no two cummingtonite crystals are exactly alike.”

Snowflakes being universally dissimilar is not unique. This is true of all crystals of a mineral specie. Summarized, no two any mineral specie crystals are exactly alike.

Hey, I’ve got a friend who was stationed in Antarctica who collected snowflakes. How? Plates of smooth glass, HF salt, gravity, and heat source (hair dryer). The snowflake lands on the HF salt, turns to a mild pH hydrofluoric acid (after gentle, judicious application of warm air), and etches the morphology of the snowflake into the glass. Pretty cool. And no two glass slide etchings of snowflakes are exactly alike in his collection, predictably and obviously.