Quetion about mineral unit cells?

Question

I understand that unit cells represent the gemometrical 3-D atomic structure. What I don't understand is the diagrams that are in many mineralogy books (I am new to this stuff!) that have flat geometric type pictures such as silicates -micas... repeating for instance (I think thay are one-dimentional). Are those disgrams just showing layers of atoms that comprise
the unit celss or something else?

Answer 1

Since the flat paper can only represent 2 dimensions, the third dimension is represented differently by different authors. For example dotted lines, lines with varying thickness, shaded lines, triangular lines, color variations, etc.
1) http://www-esd.lbl.gov/research_sums_02-03/fundamental_research/images/park.gif - Mica's lattice structure
2) http://cst-www.nrl.navy.mil/lattice/struk.picts/hexdia.s.png - Diamond's lattice structure are good examples.
The readers should use their imaginations to understand. For better understanding check internet for 3D pictures.