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Most simply put, an element is a single type of atom, as in hydrogen (H), sodium (Na), iron (Fe) and so on. We have a table of known elements that is used in chemistry. Minerals on the other hand, are various combinations of atoms, as in FeII, quartz. We usually refer to minerals when we are talking about things such as vitamins or in geology. In my limited knowledge of geology, I would say that minerals are just combinations of elements that have formed different kinds of 'rocks' under the amazing pressures of earth.

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14y ago

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