Minerals can be useful and beautiful. They are used to make metals and other substances, but they can also be cut and polished as crystals to make gems such as diamonds. Minerals typically appear naturally as crystals.
Minerals
Minerals are solid, inorganic "building blocks" of rocks and crystals consisting of elemental atoms.
Crystals
Crystals are the naturally occurring form of many minerals. The groups of atoms in minerals form a network called a crystal lattice, which gives the crystal its distinctive appearance.
Rocks
A rock is simply a combination of two or more minerals---for example, granite contains mica, quartz and feldspar.
Silicate Minerals
Silicate minerals are composed primarily of silica and oxygen; most of them form when volcanic magma cools. Olivine, diopside and mica are all common types of silicate minerals.
Non-Silicate Minerals
The main components of non-silicate minerals are elements other than silica and oxygen. These minerals may be created by cooling magma, decomposition of other minerals, or evaporation of water. Hematite, gypsum and pyrite are common non-silicate minerals.
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