Table of Contents
Definition of Minerals
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid element or compound with a specific chemical composition and a defined crystal structure. Minerals are the foundation of the earth’s crust and are responsible for the formation of rocks.
Types of Minerals
There are over 4,000 different types of minerals on Earth, and they can be classified into one of three categories: native elements, sulfides, and oxides.
Native elements are minerals that are made up of one element, such as gold or silver. Sulfides are minerals that made up of one element and one sulfur atom, such as galena. Oxides are minerals that are made up of one element and one oxygen atom, such as hematite.
Examples of Minerals and their Uses
One example of a mineral is calcite, which used in construction, agricultural, and medical applications. Construction applications include the use of calcite as a cement and as aggregate in concrete and asphalt. Agricultural applications include the use of calcite as a soil amendment to increase the soil’s ability to retain water and as a source of calcium for plants. Medical applications include the use of calcite as a calcium supplement.
Difference Between Metallic and Non-Metallic Minerals
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid element or compound. Metallic minerals are those that contain metallic elements, while non-metallic minerals do not. Metallic minerals are usually denser and have a higher luster than non-metallic minerals. The metallic elements in metallic minerals usually arranged in a crystal structure, while the non-metallic elements are not. Some examples of metallic minerals are gold, silver, and copper, while examples of non-metallic minerals are quartz and calcite.
Non-Metallic Minerals. The minerals which do not contain metals called non-metallic minerals. The minerals which do not contain metals called non-metallic minerals. Therefore they found in all the three regions of the earth. They found in all the three regions of the earth. Most of them found in the sedimentary rocks.
