their chemical make-up
Mineral hardness measures the resistance of a mineral to scratching or abrasion. It is determined by the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral or be scratched by it, as defined by the Mohs scale of hardness.
A mineral is defined as "a naturally occurring, homogeneous solid with a defined chemical composition, and a highly ordered crystal matrix." Thus, diamond (carbon) might make it into the mineral class by this definition, but mercury or water would not.
The native elements mineral group consists of minerals that exist in pure elemental form, such as gold and silver, without combining with other elements. This sets it apart from all other mineral groups, which are made up of compounds formed by the combination of multiple elements.
Silicates are the mineral group that contain silicon, carbonates are the mineral group that contain carbon, halides are the mineral group that contain halogen elements, and sulfides are the mineral group that contain sulfur. Each of these mineral groups encompasses a variety of minerals with different chemical compositions.
The two most common rock-forming mineral groups are silicates, which are made of silicon and oxygen, and carbonates, which contain carbon and oxygen. These minerals make up the majority of Earth's crust and are found in a wide variety of rock types.
In order to be a mineral, something must be solid, inorganic, naturally-occurring, chemically-defined, AND crystalline. If it is not one of these things, it is not a mineral!
a mineral is defined as any inorganic substance that occurs in nature and has a definite chemical composition.
The mineral nutrients are defined as all the inorganic elements or inorganic molecules that are required for life.
The mineral nutrients are defined as all the inorganic elements or inorganic molecules that are required for life.
Hardness is the ability of a mineral to resist being scratched. A diamond is the hardest mineral--which means that no other mineral can scratch it.
Hardness is the ability of a mineral to resist being scratched. A diamond is the hardest mineral--which means that no other mineral can scratch it.
Shared intrest
The major mineral groups are silicates, carbonates, sulfates, halides, oxides, sulfides, native elements, and phosphates. These groups are classified based on the chemical composition and structure of the minerals.
Silicate and nonsilicate
Silicate and nonsilicate.
The most common rock forming mineral groups would be: silicates, carbonates, sulfates, sulfides, halides, and oxides.
Mineral hardness measures the resistance of a mineral to scratching or abrasion. It is determined by the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral or be scratched by it, as defined by the Mohs scale of hardness.