Mineral is a naturally occurring chemical compound usually of crystalline form and not

produced by life processes. A mineral has one specific chemical composition, whereas a
rock can be an aggregate of different minerals or mineraloids. The study of minerals is
called mineralogy.

To meet the definition of “mineral” used by most geologists, a substance must meet five
requirements:

 Minerals are naturally occurring. They are not made by humans

 Minerals are inorganic. They have never been alive and are not made up from
plants or animals
 Minerals are solids. They are not liquids (like water), or gases (like the air around
you)
 Minerals have a definite chemical composition. Each one is made of a particular
mix of chemical elements
 Minerals have an ordered atomic arrangement. The chemical elements that make
up each mineral are arranged in a particular way – this is why minerals ‘grow’ as
crystals.

 To be considered a common rock-forming mineral, a mineral must:

A) be one of the most abundant minerals in Earth’s crust;

B) be one of the original minerals present at the time of a crustal rock’s
formation; and,
C) be an important mineral in determining a rock’s classification.

 Minerals that commonly found in formation of rock are;

plagioclase feldspars, alkali feldspars, quartz, pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas,

clays, olivine, calcite and dolomite.
 Quartz - typically milky white color

 Feldspar - typically off-white color

 Potassium Feldspar - typically salmon pink color

 Biotite - typically black or dark brown color

 Muscovite - typically metallic gold or yellow color

 Amphibole - typically black or dark green color