Learn+about+minerals

=What is a mineral?= When you see a glittering crystal in our Museum you would probably say it was a mineral - and you'd almost certainly be right. But can you say what a mineral really is? 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. > They are not made by humans > > > They have never been alive and are not made up from plants or animals > > > They are not liquids (like water), or gases (like the air around you) > > > Each one is made of a particular mix of chemical elements > > > The chemical elements that make up each mineral are arranged in a particular way - this is why minerals 'grow' as crystals
 * Minerals are naturally occurring
 * Minerals are inorganic
 * Minerals are solids
 * Minerals have a definite chemical composition
 * Minerals have an ordered atomic arrangement