What Are Minerals

The naturally occurring elements or compounds with specific chemical compositions and crystalline structures formed due to certain geological processes are called minerals. Examples include quartz, feldspar, calcite, sulphur, and clays like kaolinite and smectite. Numerous physical characteristics of minerals, including hardness, lustre, streak, and cleavage, can be used to identify them quickly. 

This Chemistry article talks about minerals, their types including metallic and non-metallic minerals, examples, and uses. 

What are Minerals?

A mineral is a naturally occurring, homogeneous solid having a specific chemical composition and a highly organized atomic arrangement. About 100 known mineral species, also referred to as rock-forming minerals, make up the majority of the known mineral species. A mineral is a homogeneous solid, meaning it is made up of a single, uniformly-composed solid that cannot be physically broken down into smaller chemical components. 

There are mainly eight elements found on earth's crust forming the majority of minerals. In decreasing order of abundance, these eight elements make up almost 98% of the crust's weight: oxygen, silicon, aluminium, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium.

The physical characteristics of a mineral, such as colour, hardness, density, or the way it scatters or reflects light, are influenced by its particular chemical constitution and crystal structure. These characteristics can be tested to identify unknown minerals. Complex tests like those involving magnetism, radioactivity, an acidic reaction, or x-rays are usually required. 

Examples of Minerals

The most commonly found minerals in earth's crust and rocks are feldspar, quartz, mica, halite, calcite, olivine, serpentine, and amphibole. Various other minerals are discussed as follows: 

• Some rocks, like limestone or quartzite, are predominantly made up of a single mineral, either quartz, or calcite, and aragonite in the case of limestone. Talc and quartz are characterized by various physical characteristics. Talc feels oily and is soft, making it easier to scratch. Quartz is brittle and resembles glass appearance. 
• Minerals called ores typically contain large amounts of a certain element, usually a metal. Examples include the tin ore cassiterite (), zinc ore sphalerite (ZnS), the boron ore colemanite, and the mercury mineral cinnabar (HgS).
• Minerals of ornamental value are called gems. They can be recognized from non-gems by their attractiveness, hardness, and scarcity. 
• Table salt is also a common mineral used in everyday life. It is derived from seawater or rock deposits. 

Types of Minerals

Sulphides, sulphosalts, oxides, hydroxides, halides, carbonates, nitrates, borates, sulphates, phosphates, native elements and silicates are some of the common types of minerals. These minerals can further be categorised into two types: 

• Metallic Minerals 
• Non-Metallic Minerals

Metallic Minerals 

The minerals majorly composed of metals are termed metallic minerals. They are typically found as mineral deposits and are good heat and electrical conductors. Examples include iron, copper, gold, bauxite, and manganese. The igneous rocks produced by the cooling and solidification of lava or magma are where they are most frequently found. Some metallic minerals can be used in jewellery because they are usually hard and have a shining surface. These minerals can also be found in two main types: 

• Ferrous Minerals 
• Non-Ferrous Minerals 

Ferrous Minerals 

Ferrous minerals are metallic minerals mainly composed of iron. They are magnetic in nature due to the presence of carbonates, hydroxides or sulphides of iron. Manganese, hematite, and magnetite are some examples of ferrous minerals. 

Non-Ferrous Minerals 

Non-ferrous minerals do not contain iron in their composition. They are mainly made up of elements like copper, zinc, lead, aluminium, tin, alkali metal and alkaline earth metals minerals. 

Non-Metallic Minerals 

Non-metallic minerals have no metallic compounds as constituents. They are mainly utilized to create coatings and insulating materials in a variety of industries. They are also employed in the manufacture of fertiliser and cement. 

They are produced by sedimentary rocks, which are created by the accumulation of many different types of rock particles, minerals, and organic remnants. A majority of non-metallic minerals are composed of silicates with the base unit of . 

Common Minerals Found in Igneous Rocks

The common minerals found in igneous rocks are discussed in the table below: 

Mineral	-	Chemical Composition	Appearance
Feldspar	Plagioclase	Sodium, calcium or aluminium silicates	Blocky, dark grey to white
	Orthoclase	Potassium aluminium silicate	Blocky pink
Mica	Biotite	Complex iron silicates	Thin, shiny black sheets
Muscovite	Complex potassium silicates	Thin, shiny clear sheets
Quartz	-	Silicon dioxide	Cloudy, white, glassy, pink, grey
Olivine	-	Magnesium iron silicate	Translucent with a glassy lustre
Pyroxenes	-	Mostly calcium, magnesium and iron silicates	Dark green to black prismatic crystals

Uses of Minerals 

Minerals are used in a variety of ways. Some of the most common uses of minerals are discussed as follows: 

• Energy-producing minerals include those that are used to make polymers, fuel for vehicles, home and office heating, and electricity. Uranium, coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of energy minerals. 
• Metals like iron (also known as steel) are used in automobiles and building frameworks, copper is used in electrical wire, lithium is used in rechargeable batteries, and aluminium is used in aeroplanes and beverage cans. Mobile phones and jewellery both include the use of precious metals extracted from minerals. 
• Sand and gravel, brick clay, and crushed rock aggregates are all types of construction minerals used to make concrete, bricks, and pipes, as well as to build homes and roads. 
• Industrial minerals also referred to as non-metallic minerals, are utilised in a variety of industrial processes, such as the production of chemicals, glass, fertilisers, and fillers for paper, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. Salt, clays, graphite, limestone, silica sand, phosphate rock, talc, and mica are examples of industrial minerals.

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