A naturally occurring substance, representable by a chemical formula, that is usually solid and inorganic, and has a crystal structure.It is different from a rock, which can be an aggregate of minerals or non-minerals and does not have a specific chemical composition.
Definition. The minerals (inorganic nutrients) that are relevant to human nutrition include water, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate, sulfate, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, selenium, and molybdenum. Cobalt is a required mineral for human health, but it is supplied by vitamin B 12 Definition of MINERAL for Kids. 1. : a naturally occurring solid substance (as diamond, gold, or quartz) that is not of plant or animal origin. 2. : a naturally occurring substance (as ore, coal, salt, or petroleum) obtained from the ground usually for humans to use. A mineral, by definition, is. . . 1  Inorganic, which means that it is not made by a living organism. 2  A solid. 3  There is one unusual exception. 4  Native mercury is a mineral and is the only metal that is a liquid at normal temperatures. 5  Has a regular crystal structure. 6  The crystal structures are described as crystal systems.  A mineral is a naturally occurring substance, representable by a chemical formula, that is usually solid and inorganic, and has a crystal structure. It is different from a rock, which can be an aggregate of minerals or non-minerals and does not have a specific chemical composition. Minerals can be described by various physical properties which relate to their chemical structure and composition. Common distinguishing characteristics include crystal structure and habit, hardness, lustre, diaphaneity, colour, streak, tenacity, cleavage, fracture, parting, and specific gravity. Naturally occurring means that people did not make it. Steel is not a mineral because it is an alloy produced by people. Inorganic means that the substance is not made by an organism. Wood and pearls are made by organisms and thus are not minerals. Solid means that it is not a liquid or a gas at standard temperature and pressure. mineral. n. 1. (Minerals) any of a class of naturally occurring solid inorganic substances with a characteristic crystalline form and a homogeneous chemical composition. 2. any inorganic matter. 3. (Mining & Quarrying) any substance obtained by mining, esp a metal ore. 4. (Cookery) (often plural) Brit short for mineral water. The following definitions on what constitutes a mineral were taken from several different sources and are arranged by year:  1 A mineral is an element or chemical compound that is normally crystalline and that has been formed as a result of geological processes (Nickel, E. H., 1995).  2 Minerals are naturally-occurring inorganic substances with a definite and predictable chemical composition and physical properties.. ( 3 O' Donoghue, 1990).  A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness. 2. An inorganic element, such as calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, or zinc, that is essential to the nutrition of humans, animals, and plants. mineral. any naturally occurring nonorganic homogeneous solid substance. There are 19 or more minerals forming the mineral composition of the animal body; at least 13 are essential to health. Defining a mineral. A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid, with a definite chemical composition, and an ordered atomic arrangement. This may seem a bit of a mouthful, but if you break it down it becomes simpler. 1  Minerals are naturally occurring. 2  They are not made by humans. 3  Minerals are inorganic. 
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minerals definition