Definition of minerals and its types

When it comes to minerals, many of us associate it with gold, silver and other elements like them. However, there are some nutrients such as iron and potassium that are also considered minerals.

In this article, we will explain the different types of minerals.

The term “mineral” is used to refer to two different types of components.

One is edible minerals or diet-related minerals, and the other is elements formed by geographic processes that are simply called minerals.

A mineral is a solid substance that has a molecular or crystalline atomic structure and is also a homogeneous substance that exists naturally

and has a specific chemical composition.

In 1965, the International Mineralogical Society proposed a standard definition of minerals as follows:

“An element or chemical compound that is normally crystalline and formed as a result of geological processes.”

Many minerals are used to extract useful metals; Therefore, a complete and accurate study of them is very important.

Minerals or minerals The number of known minerals is very large. Currently, the International Mineralogical Society has compiled a list of 4,600 minerals that new minerals are still being discovered.

Only 100 of these minerals are common, while the rest either come into contact with them by chance or are very rare.

Due to the large number of minerals, it is difficult to identify and classify them separately.

Mineralogists, however, identify minerals based on the following characteristics:

• Soil color • جلا • Sheen • Degree of difficulty • Occurrence or cracking surfaces • Crystal system or hobbit (habit) • Color • Specific density • Clarity and transparency

Once a mineral has been identified and proven to be a mineral,
it is classified as a silicate or non-silicate mineral based on its composition.

Silicate minerals

The most common group of minerals that are often found in the earth’s crust is the silicate group. Almost all silicate minerals have silica and oxygen as their main units. Many silicate minerals are formed by the cooling of molten rocks.

As the molten rocks get closer to the surface inside the earth’s crust, they cool very quickly and combine with the earth’s most abundant element, silica. Silicate minerals make up about 90% of the Earth’s crust. Mica, quartz, amazonite, olivine, and biotite are some examples of silicate minerals.

Non-silicate minerals

There is a complete range of non-silicate minerals.

Some of these minerals form when magma or lava cools, while others form when the water inside them evaporates or due to weathering.

Non-silicate minerals can be further classified into different groups.