Chapter 3: Minerals

Mineral Criteria

Minerals must be naturally occurring, formed by geologic processes, inorganic, crystalline solid, and have a definite chemical composition.

Common Minerals

Only about 30 mineral species are quite common on Earth's crust, including silicates like olivine, amphibole, and quartz.

Naturally Occurring

Minerals are naturally formed substances, unlike synthetic minerals created in a lab.

Inorganic Definition

Inorganic minerals are naturally occurring substances that have never been alive and are not derived from living organisms.

Crystalline Solid

Minerals have atoms, ions, or molecules arranged in a regular, well-defined pattern.

Definite Chemical Composition

Minerals have a specific chemical composition expressed by a chemical formula, like salt (NaCl).

Mineral Crystals

Minerals are composed of elements with atoms bound by chemical bonds, forming crystal structures with unique properties.

Chemically Bonding

Covalent bonds in minerals determine their strength, with different types of bonds leading to variations in hardness and properties.

Perfect Minerals

Mineral growth can be restricted, leading to imperfect crystal faces like anhedral crystals, due to space limitations during formation.