What is minerals?

Laboratory created gems (synthetic diamonds, rubies, etc.) don't count. A Solid By definition, minerals are solid within the normal temperature ranges of the earth's surface. Inorganic Generally, a mineral is a naturally occurring solid with a crystalline structure. This is where it gets a little tricky. Halite or table salt is a mineral. read more

Minerals in rocks: Most rocks are aggregates of minerals. This rock, a granite pegmatite, is a mixture of mineral grains. It contains pink orthoclase, milky quartz, black hornblende and black biotite. read more

A mineral is a naturally occurring chemical compound, usually of crystalline form and not produced by life processes. A mineral has one specific chemical composition, whereas a rock can be an aggregate of different minerals or mineraloids. The study of minerals is called mineralogy. read more

A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid, with a definite chemical composition, and an ordered atomic arrangement. This may seem a bit of a mouthful, but if you break it down it becomes simpler. read more