Crystallization usually starts with an impurity, like a tiny speck of dust, something for crystals to grow from and build upon (also known as nucleation). [Then,] ice freezes from the outside in because the tray and surface of the water are exposed to colder temperatures. [And finally,] crystallization pushes away impurities (such as dissolved minerals and gases), therefore in the case of ice cubes, these impurities are pushed to the center of the ice cubes.