Minerals are physical substances which can be classified based on various properties, such as length, mass, heat, odour, colour and temperature. All of these characteristics reflect changes in molecular composition.
Minerals are inorganic compounds originating from geological environments and possessing distinct chemical composition, as well as solidity in normal conditions. Furthermore, they should possess well-defined crystal structures and well-established physical properties.
They are made of atoms
Atoms are the building blocks of all matter, acting as both positive and negative charges (protons and neutrons). Furthermore, atoms can combine freely to form molecules with other elements through chemical bonding processes known as covalent bonding, producing minerals as the result.
Most minerals are chemical compounds composed of multiple elements bonded together through chemical bonds in order to form minerals. While different elements might come together differently in these compounds, each mineral requires that all its atoms be connected in some specific way in order to form it. Some minerals only consist of one element, like native copper or gold; other types contain several, like sodium chloride in halite table salt.
Physical properties used to identify minerals include color, luster, streak, hardness, cleavage and specific gravity. These can easily be detected using simple tools like magnifying glasses and microscopes. Other characteristics may require further study, such as crystal habit of minerals which describes their way of growing when they crystallize – these range from very simple such as cubic pyrite all the way through to rose quartz with multiple crystal faces!
They are a part of living things
Minerals are essential parts of life, both animals and plants alike. Our bodies depend on them for physical, mental, emotional and energy needs; there are different kinds of minerals but all share one characteristic – crystal structure! Bound by smooth plane faces with defined planes axes and centres of symmetry they offer essential support.
Geologists use Mohs hardness scale scores as one measure to distinguish minerals, which indicates how easily a mineral scratches a copper penny. Cleavage indicates how easily minerals break, while crystal habits like striations and twinning help identify specific mineral species.
Mineralogists depend on physical characteristics to help differentiate between minerals, and describe rocks accurately. Striations lines appear on plagioclase feldspar’s cleavage faces due to twinned atomic structures replicating themselves along certain directions, providing mineralogists with useful indicators.
They are a part of the Earth’s crust
Minerals are composed of various elements and each mineral has a distinctive crystal structure. Silicate minerals, with silicon and oxygen foundations, account for most rock-forming minerals; examples include feldspars, quartz, olivines, pyroxenes and amphiboles (ferromagnesian dark minerals containing iron magnesium and aluminum found in gabbro, basalt and diorite; they may also appear as spots of black igneous material in granite).
Minerals can be defined using three criteria: crystal structure, inorganic chemistry and limited chemical composition. This definition excludes organic compounds like wood or pearls but includes calcite – one of the most prevalent sedimentary rocks minerals. Also excluded are organism-produced substances like hydroxylapatite. Regardless, organic mineraloids from inorganic precursors can form into minerals that are often used in jewelry and other applications.
They are a part of the human body
Minerals are essential parts of human bodies and should be consumed via a balanced diet. Some individuals are at greater risk for mineral deficiency than others; such as elderly people, pregnant women and people following restricted diets. If this applies to you, please seek guidance from a dietician for nutritional guidance.
Minerals are naturally-occurring inorganic substances with regular crystal structures and well-defined chemical composition. While geologists use this definition, certain natural substances (e.g. water or mercury) don’t fully conform; nonetheless, geologists consider them minerals.
An ideal mineral is defined as being homogeneous, meaning that all of its constituent chemical elements have the same atomic arrangement throughout its structure. This distinguishes it from compounds, which contain various elements in different proportions in their atoms. Some crystalline substances with variable chemical compositions still qualify as one mineral species such as Mackinawite – an iron-nickel substitution ferrous sulfide mineral species.
