Minerals are inorganic substances with specific atomic structures, chemical compositions, and physical properties. They belong to chemical and crystalline groups and can be identified by their properties. Minerals are different from rocks, which are combinations of minerals. Minerals have been important to humans for thousands of years and are collected as a hobby.
A mineral is a solid inorganic substance formed by geological processes. There are about 3,000 known, and new discoveries occur frequently. All have a specific atomic structure, chemical composition and physical properties. Minerals range from pure elements, to salts, to silicates which can take thousands of different forms. Gemstones are the attractive ones that have been cut and polished to be used in jewelry making.
Every mineral belongs to a chemical group which represents their affiliation with certain elements or compounds. They also belong to a group of crystalline structures and have other properties, such as hardness, color, luster, specific gravity, tenacity, and crystal habits associated with them. These and other properties are used to identify and classify them.
The crystalline structure of a substance is important in determining its chemical and physical properties. A crystal structure refers to how atoms are arranged in space. The type of crystalline structure that one has greatly influences its physical properties. For example, graphite and diamonds are both composed of carbon, but have different crystalline structures making them some of the softest and hardest known compounds in the world, respectively.
A mineral is different from a rock, which is made up of combinations of different minerals and does not always have the same chemical composition. Some rocks, such as limestone, are made up almost entirely of one substance, while others contain many different ones. The specific minerals in a rock can also vary greatly. Rocks that contain materials of commercial value are called ores and are mined for economic purposes.
Minerals have been important to humans for thousands of years. Wars have been fought for access to coveted ones, such as gold, silver and diamonds. Most of the earth’s resources are limited, and issues of mineral exploitation and conservation are highly political. Some of these substances, such as quartz and feldspar, are widely distributed throughout the earth, while others, such as emeralds, are limited to specific geographical areas.
Collecting minerals is a popular hob, as they can be very beautiful and have interesting physical properties. Collectors can collect their own specimens from known mines or sites, or purchase them from dealers and at exhibitions. Many cities and towns have clubs that organize field trips to collect specimens and plan other educational activities.
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