What is a Mineral?
Single element minerals
copper, silver, and gold
Characteristic 4
Crystal structure. The particles of a mineral line up in a pattern that repeats over and over again. The repeating pattern of a mineral's particles forms a solid called a crystal.
Characteristic 2
The mineral cannot arise from materials that were once part of a living thing.A mineral is inorganic.
How many minerals have geologists identified?
3,000
Compound
A compound is a substance made of 2 or more elements that are combined. Each compound has its own properties, completely different from the elements that formed it.
Characteristic 5
A mineral always contains certain elements in definite proportions. An element is a substance composed of a single kind of atom.
Characteristic 3
A mineral is always a solid, with a definite volume and shape. A solid keeps its shape.
Mineral
A naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.
Characteristic 1
A substance must occur naturally. A mineral cannot be manufactured by humans.
Atom
An atom is the smallest part of an element that has all of the properties of that element.
Element
An element is a substance composed of a single knid of atom.
How many minerals are known as common minerals?
100