A Mineral Is Not the Same Thing as a Rock
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid with a definite chemical composition. A rock is a mixture of minerals, which is the difference that matters.
A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite composition and an ordered crystal structure. A rock is an aggregate of minerals: granite is a rock, and the quartz and feldspar in it are minerals. Nutrition uses the word differently again, for the chemical elements the body needs.
- A naturally occurring inorganic solid. *Quartz is a mineral.*
- A dietary element. *Vitamins and minerals.*
- Mineral water — water with dissolved minerals. *A bottle of mineral water.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mineral | A rare mineral. |
| Plural | minerals | Trace minerals. |
| Adjective | mineral | Mineral rights. |
| Noun | mineralogy | A course in mineralogy. |
| Related | ore | Iron ore. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The rock contains several minerals.The technical distinction.
- Iron and calcium are dietary minerals.Nutritional sense.
- The company bought the mineral rights.The right to extract what is underground.
Minerals worth knowing
- Quartz — silicon dioxide, one of the commonest
- Feldspar — the most abundant group in the crust
- Calcite — the mineral of limestone and marble
- Mica — splits into thin flexible sheets
- Halite — rock salt
From Medieval Latin *minerale*, from *minera*, a mine or ore. The word entered English through mining before geology existed as a science.
Is a rock a mineral?
No. A rock is a mixture of one or more minerals. A mineral has a defined composition and crystal structure.
What makes water mineral water?
Dissolved minerals from the rock it passed through. Rules on labelling differ by country and usually require a stable composition from a protected source.