Minerals are substances that are formed naturally in the Earth. The study of minerals is called mineralogy.

A mineral is a solid and has a crystal structure. It also has a defined chemical composition.

A mineral can be a solid chemical element, or in most cases a solid compound. Two common minerals are quartz and feldspar.

There are over 4,000 known minerals.

Some uses of minerals:

• Graphite is used to make pencil.
• Rock salt is used in cooking.
• Gold is used in jewelry.

Minerals and rocks

Minerals are different from rocks. A mineral is a chemical compound with a given composition and a defined crystal structure. A rock is a mixture of one or several minerals, in varying proportions.

See also

• A list of minerals
• Mining
• Quarrying

External links

• Some common minerals and their uses
• Rock salt

minerals | معدن | Минерал | Mineral | Minerál | Mwyn | Mineral | Mineral | Mineraal | Mineral | Mineral | Mineralo | کانی (معدن) | Minéral | Mineral | 광물 | Mineral | Steind | Minerale | מינרל | Mineralas | Ásvány | Минерал | Mineraal | 鉱物 | Mineral | Mineral | Minerał | Mineral | Минерал | Minirali | Nerast | Mineral | Минерал | Minerali | Mineral | Mineraali | Mineral | แร่ | Mineral | 礦物