What is a minearloid?

Answer 1

A minearloid is a naturally occurring inorganic substance that resembles a mineral but lacks a definitive crystalline structure. Unlike true minerals, which have a specific geometric arrangement of atoms, minearloids can be amorphous or have a more disordered arrangement. Common examples of minearloids include obsidian, opal, and volcanic glass. These substances are often categorized based on their chemical composition and physical properties, despite not meeting the strict criteria for mineral classification.