What are the 3 characteristics of minerals?

Answer 1

Solid -apex

Answer 2

1. All minerals are formed in a natural process.

2. Minerals are inorganic

3. Minerals are solid.

4. Third, Every mineral is an element or compound with a definite chemical composition

5. Fourth, minerals are crystalline solids.

Answer 3

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, homogeneous solid with a definite (but not fixed) chemical composition and an ordered atomic arrangement.

Quite the text, let's go through step by step.

Naturally occurring: it occurs in nature. Synthetic materials are not considered minerals.

Inorganic: Not from organic origin. Hair, for example, is not a mineral.

Homogeneous solid: a solid substance that can not physically be separated into simpler compounds.

Definite (but not fixed) chemical composition: Basically, there is a chemical formula that describes the mineral. This formula can keep space for substitution. For example: Magnesium and Iron ions have the same chemical properties, and in the mineral Olivine, these can be interchanged. You can have magnesium-rich olivine, and iron rich olivine, but it's still olivine. The chemical formula can be defined, though, as: (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. The actual formula of a piece of olivine can be Mg1.8Fe0.2SiO4, though.

Ordered atomic arrangement: Basically: it has to be a crystal. And the atomic arrangement really defines a mineral. Think about graphite and diamond. Both have the chemical formula C, being completely made out of carbon. It's chemical properties can be very different, though.

Answer 4

Minerals can have properties such as hardness, streak, cleavage, specific gravity and color. The defining characteristics of minerals are that they be solid, have a definite chemical formula, are inorganic, be naturally occurring, and have a crystalline structure.

Answer 5

they are sedimentry and metamophic and igneus

Answer 6

Solid