Physics’ main goal is to understand nature on its most fundamental levels, by observing and measuring natural events as well as using mathematical models to explain them. With their knowledge they bring forth new technologies.
Minerals must exist in solid form – water does not count as a mineral – with a crystal structure and distinct chemical composition.
They are found in the Earth
Minerals can be found throughout Earth’s crust, typically as chemical compounds formed within rocks. Only a select few minerals exist in their pure state and tend to hold high commercial value. Color, luster and hardness can help identify minerals as can magnetic properties or reaction with water or light exposure.
Mineralogists utilize an x-ray diffraction technique to identify the atomic structure of minerals, and predict how the atoms will pack together into crystal structures. Mineralogists sometimes refer to solid substances that do not meet geological definitions as minerals as “minerals,” such as glass or obsidian.
Silicates, composed primarily of silicon and oxygen, make up over 90% of Earth’s crust, while carbonates, oxides and sulfides also play an integral part. Minerals can be divided into metal, semimetal and nonmetal groups for further classification purposes.
They are used in industry
Minerals play an integral part of modern industry and our everyday lives, from building materials and paint production to ceramics, glassware, paper products, plastics electronics detergents medications and medical devices. Not to mention their numerous other uses – with estimates suggesting the average person consumes over 16,000 pounds annually!
Mining and using industrial minerals can have detrimental environmental effects, including displacement of vegetation and wildlife, which leads to habitat loss. Furthermore, mining activities may create acid mine drainage which pollutes water sources while harming aquatic life.
Minerals must meet certain criteria in order to be classified as minerals: having a distinct chemical formula and characteristic crystalline structure. Mineraloids – those without these characteristics but lacking geological classification as minerals such as opal or emerald – do not qualify as geologic minerals and should not be considered true minerals geologically. With population and income growth expected, industrial mineral demand will likely increase alongside construction projects that require more minerals in buildings and cars, necessitating increased demand.
They are important for sustaining life
Minerals are vital components of daily life, helping our bodies remain healthy. Minerals also serve many industrial uses such as making concrete and bricks, mining gold, producing steel and other metals and growing plants.
Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with specific chemical composition and highly ordered atomic structure, including crystalline structures and no liquid or gaseous states. Minerals may form either through geological processes or living organisms – examples being calcite from seashells and coral reefs and limestone from coral. Kyanite and staurolite may also form from such processes by changing pressure or temperature conditions during formation processes.
Some minerals are essential to human life, including iron for making cars and steel frames; copper used for electrical wiring; lithium used to recharge rechargeable batteries; aluminium used in aircraft and drinks cans; precious metals like gold and diamonds. Meanwhile other minerals are useful construction projects; for instance sand and gravel, brick clay and crushed rock aggregates.
They are beautiful
Most of the things in our world-houses, pots and pans, batteries, cars and fertilizer-are made up of minerals found in rocks, crystals and gems – some even glow in the dark!
Minerals’ beauty is determined by their chemical makeup, structure of atoms and variety of physical properties. Examples include symmetry (the repetition of geometric groups of atoms in a crystal such as butterfly wings or whorls and petals of a sunflower) or fluorescence which occurs when minerals absorb ultraviolet light and then emit it again over longer wavelengths – creating the appearance of rainbows!
Minerals often exhibit unique features, including their tendency to break along flat planes known as cleavage surfaces. Plagioclase feldspar, for instance, often forms fine straight lines known as striations that become visible under magnification on this surface.
