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A Nonmineral (Mineralogy) is a substance found in a natural environment that does not satisfy the definition of a Mineral and is not even a Mineraloid. Many nonminerals are mined and have industrial or other uses similar to minerals, such as jewelry. Other alleged minerals, such as dilithium, are merely fictional artifacts.
Mineral definition
To be classified as a "true" mineral, a substance must be a solid and have a crystal structure. It must also be an inorganic, naturally-occurring, homogeneous substance with a defined chemical composition.
Common Nonminerals
- Allingite, another name for amber.
- Amber, organic, non-crystal structure.
- Anthracite, a variety of coal, "hard coal."
- Beckerite, another name for amber.
- Burmite, another name for amber.
- Coal, organic, nonhomogeneous, and non-crystal structure.
- Coprolite, fossilized feces, a fossil of organic origin.
- Coquina, nonhomogeneous, non-crystal limestone formed from marine shells and coral.
- Gedanite, another name for amber.
- Glessite, another name for amber.
- Jet, not considered a true mineral due to organic, non-crystal nature, a mineraloid.
- Krantzite, another name for amber.
- Lignite, a variety of coal, "Brown coal."
- Limonite, amorphous hydrated iron oxide, a mineraloid.
- Obsidian, usually not considered a mineral due to non-crystal structure.
- Opal, non-crystal structure, a mineraloid.
- Pearl, often considered a mineral due to crystal components, but then not a mineral due to organic origin, probably should be a mineraloid.
- Petroleum, organic and liquid.
- Rocks, most rocks are mixtures of minerals, but a few are composed of just one mineral.
- pyrobitumen, organic, nonhomogeous, non-crystal structure.
- Stantienite, another name for amber.
- Synthetic diamond, not naturally occurring like most other synthetic gems, but difficult to distinguish from naturally occurring forms.
- Vulcanite, vulcanized natural or synthetic rubber, thus not a mineral due to organic composition, lack of crystal structure, and not naturally occurring.
- Water, a liquid (but naturally occurring ice is a mineral).
Other considerations
Some minerals, such as the well-known Apatite and Mica, are not homogeneous substances, but are a mixture of related minerals, sometimes referred to as a mineral group.
See also
"Nonmineral"