What is a Mineral? — Passage
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a specific chemical composition and a well-defined crystal structure. Minerals are the building blocks of rocks and are found in the Earth’s crust. They form through geological processes such as cooling magma, evaporation of water, and pressure changes deep within the Earth.
Minerals have several key characteristics:
- Naturally Occurring: They are formed by natural processes, not human-made.
- Inorganic: They are not formed from living organisms.
- Solid: Minerals have a definite shape and volume.
- Definite Chemical Composition: Each mineral has a specific chemical formula (e.g., quartz is SiO₂).
Crystal Structure: Minerals have atoms arranged in a repeating, orderly pattern.
Examples of common minerals include quartz, feldspar, and calcite. Minerals are essential for many industries, from construction to technology. They are also vital for human health, as they provide nutrients like calcium and iron.
Fun fact: There are over 5,000 known minerals on Earth, but only about 100 are considered common!
What is a mineral?
A human-made substanceA naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a crystal structureA type of rockA living organismWhich of the following is NOT a characteristic of minerals?
Naturally occurringOrganicDefinite chemical compositionCrystal structureWhat is an example of a common mineral?
GraniteQuartzSandstoneBasaltHow many known minerals are there on Earth?
1001,0005,00010,000What gives minerals their unique physical properties?
Their colorTheir crystal structureTheir sizeTheir originWhich mineral is used in watches and computers due to its precise vibrations?
DiamondQuartzOpalGraphiteWhat is the chemical formula for quartz?
CaCO₃SiO₂NaClFe₂O₃What is the fun fact about minerals mentioned in the passage?
There are only 100 minerals on EarthOver 5,000 minerals are known, but only 100 are commonMinerals are only found in oceansMinerals are not used in technologyCommon core standards covered
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