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What is a mineral?

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Quick answer

A mineral is a naturally occurring, solid substance with a specific chemical composition and an orderly internal crystal structure. Minerals are the building blocks of rocks — quartz, feldspar, diamond, and gold are all minerals. A mineral is naturally formed, solid, and has a definite chemical formula (e.g. quartz is SiO₂).

Key things to understand

  1. A mineral is naturally formed, solid, and has a definite chemical formula (e.g. quartz is SiO₂).
  2. Its atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating crystal pattern.
  3. Rocks are made of minerals — often several different ones combined.
  4. Minerals are identified by properties like hardness, colour, lustre, and how they break.
  5. Examples: quartz, feldspar, mica, calcite, diamond, and gold.

People also ask

What makes something a mineral?
It must be naturally occurring, solid, inorganic, have a definite chemical composition, and have atoms in an orderly crystal structure. Quartz and diamond qualify; glass doesn't (no ordered structure).
What's the difference between a mineral and a rock?
A mineral is a single pure substance with a fixed composition; a rock is a solid usually made of two or more minerals mixed together.
How are minerals identified?
By physical properties — hardness (the Mohs scale), colour, streak, lustre, crystal shape, and the way they break (cleavage or fracture).

Part of the guide: Nature & Earth: Living Things and Rocks →