Minerals

A mineral is a naturally occuring homogeneous solid with a definite chemical composition and an ordered atomic arrangement, and is either an element or an chemical compound that has been formed by geological processes.

A mineraloid lacks the systemic internal crystalline arrangement of atoms characteristic of minerals. A mineraloid is defined as 'a naturally occurring, usually inorganic, solid consisting of either a single element or a compound, and having a definite chemical composition but lacking a systemic internal arrangement of atoms'.

A crystal is defined as 'a mineral in which the systematic internal arrangement of atoms is outwardly reflected as a latticework of repeated three-dimensional units that form a geometric solid with a surface consisting of symmetrical planes.'

See also IMA Commission On New Minerals And Mineral Names:

◊◊ mineral groups ◊ minerals

alphabetic sections ◊ A ◊ B ◊ C ◊ D ◊ E ◊ F ◊ G ◊ H ◊ I ◊ J ◊ K ◊ L ◊ M ◊ N ◊ O ◊ P ◊ Q ◊ R ◊ S ◊ T ◊ U ◊ V ◊ W ◊ X ◊ Y ◊ Z ◊◊ elements of periodic table ◊◊ ◊ actinides ◊ alkali metals ◊ alkali earth metals ◊ elemental composition of crust ◊ Geochemical Periodic Table ◊ Goldschmidt's classification ◊ halogens ◊ HFSE ◊ incompatible elements ◊ inert elements ◊ lanthanides ◊ LILE ◊ non metals ◊ periodic table ◊ trace elements ◊ transition metals ◊ ◙◙ Rock Index ◙◙

A ◊ actinides, actinoids ◊ albite ◊ alkali feldspars ◊ almandine ◊ amphiboles ◊◊ aluminosilicates (kyanite, sillimanite, zeolites) ◊ anorthite ▪ argillic, argillaceous

B ◊ biotite ▪ Bowen's Reaction Series ◊

C ◊ carbonates ◊ chlorites ◊ chromite ◊ clays ◊ crystallization ◊

D ◊ diagenetic alteration ◊ diffusion creep ◊ dynamic recrystallization ◊

E ◊ epidote ◊ evaporates& sulphates

F ◊ feldspars (alkali (K) feldspars, plagioclase feldspar / albite, anorthite, monocline, orthoclase) ◊ feldspathoids ◊◊ ferrimagnetic (magnetite) ◊◊ ferromagnesian minerals ◊ foids ▪ fusible ◊

G ◊ garnets ◊ geothermobarometry ◊

H ◊ hornblende ◊

I ◊ incompatible elements ◊◊ inosilicates single-chain (pyroxenes), inosilicates double-chain (amphiboles)

J ◊

K ◊ K-feldspars ◊ K-spars ◊ kyanite ◊

L ◊ lanthanides, lanthanoids ◊

M ◊ magnetite ◊◊ magnesium iron silicate (olivine) ▪ mantle (crystal) ◊◊ micas (biotite, muscovite) monocline ◊ muscovite ◊

N ◊◊ nesosilicates

O ◊ Oddo-Harkins Rule ◊ olivine ◊ orthoclase ▪ overgrowth of crystals ◊ oxides

P ◊ paleoblast ◊ piezoelectric ◊ phenocrysts ◊◊ phyllosilicates (biotite) ◊ plagioclase feldspar ◊ porphyroblasts ◊ porphyroclasts ◊ preferred orientation ◊ pyroelectric ◊ pyrope ◊◊ inosilicate pyroxenes ◊

Q ◊ quartz ◊

R ◊ rare earth elements ◊ recrystallization ◊ REE ▪ refractory ◊

S ◊ schlieren ◊ serpentines ◊ serpentinization ◊◊ silicates ◊◊ sorosilicates ◊ sillimanite ◊ spinels ◊ staurolite ◊

T ◊◊ tectosilicates (feldspars, quartz) ◊ tourmalines ◊ trace elements ◊

U ◊

V ◊

W ◊ weathering

X ◊ xenocryst ◊

Y ◊

Z ◊ zeolites ◊

Geological Terms : Sections ▪ A ▪ B ▪ C ▪ D ▪ E ▪ F ▪ G ▪ H ▪ I ▪ J ▪ K ▪ L ▪ M ▪ N ▪ O ▪ P ▪ Q ▪ R ▪ S ▪ T ▪ U ▪ V ▪ W ▪ X ▪ Y ▪ Z ▪ animations ▪ diagrams ▪ tables

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