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It is a naturally occurring solid formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition. I am pretty sure this is accurate....:)

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11y ago

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What is the definition of hardness in minerals?

Hardness in minerals refers to the ability of a mineral to resist scratching or abrasion. It is measured on the Mohs scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).


Are synthetic minerals produced in laboratories minerals?

Synthetic minerals produced in laboratories are not considered minerals in the traditional sense because they are not naturally occurring. Minerals are naturally formed, inorganic solids with a crystalline structure, while synthetic minerals are man-made through various chemical processes.


Definition of metallic minerals?

Metallic minerals are minerals that contain metal elements in their chemical composition. These minerals are valuable due to their high economic value and are used for various purposes, such as in construction, manufacturing, and energy production. Examples of metallic minerals include gold, silver, copper, and iron.


Does snow have minerals in it?

Snow is a mineral, like diamonds or salt. The definition of a mineral is: "A mineral is a naturally occurring homogeneous solid, inorganically formed, with a definite chemical composition and an ordered atomic arrangement." Using that definition, ice is certainly a mineral; and hence snow is, too. Water, however, is not.


Are minerals synthetic?

No. According to the current definition, in order to be an accepted mineral species, a mineral must form naturally, it cannot be manmade. There is an interesting debate around the exact definition of a mineral, and whether minerals that have been formed by human intervention really should be considered genuine minerals or not. Eg. the ancient Roman mines at Laurium, Greece, where poorly refined lead and other element-rich slag nodules were dumped into the sea. Millennia of reaction with salt water caused a large variety of tiny but beautiful crystals to form in the the small gas pockets within the nodules. Upon examination it was found that a number of these were actually new minerals, and described as such, but the current train of thought is that they're manmade and unworthy of true mineral status. There's lots of other post-mining minerals, they form in many strange and wonderful places. The debate on the exact definition of a mineral continues.