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Definition: mineral from Dictionary of Energy

Materials. a general term for any naturally occurring inorganic substance, of inorganic or possibly organic origin, that has a definite chemical composition and an orderly internal structure, a crystal form, and characteristic chemical and physical properties.

mineral

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
inorganic substance occurring in nature, having a characteristic and homogeneous chemical composition, definite physical properties, and, usually, a definite crystalline form. A few of the minerals (e.g., carbon, arsenic, bismuth, antimony, gold, silver, copper, lead, mercury, platinum, and iron) are elements, but the vast majority are chemical compounds. A generalized formula can usually be assigned to each mineral that is a chemical compound, although sometimes one element in a mineral may be replaced by another without changing the species of the mineral ( isomorphism ). Minerals combine with each other to make up rocks, which, as distinguished from minerals, are of heterogeneous composition. Minerals may occur in the massive state when conditions for the formation of crystals are unfavorable. Among the important physical properties of minerals are specific gravity, hardness, cleavage, fracture, luster, color, transparency, streak, striations, tenacity, fusibility, heat…
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Full text Article mineral

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
inorganic substance occurring in nature, having a characteristic and homogeneous chemical composition, definite physical properties, and, usually, a definite crystalline form. A few of the minerals (e.g., carbon, arsenic, bismuth, antimony, gold, silver, copper, lead, mercury, platinum, and iron) …
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Full text Article Minerals

From The Gale Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Food Labels
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National...
Minerals are inorganic elements that originate in the earth and cannot be made in the body. They play important roles in various bodily functions and are necessary to sustain life and maintain optimal health and, thus, are essential nutrients. Most of the minerals in the human diet come directly…
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Full text Article Minerals

From Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health: Infancy Through Adolescence
SOURCE: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs):...
Minerals are substances that occur naturally in foods and inorganic sources and are relevant to human nutrition. Humans require various amounts of different minerals to maintain health and proper body functioning. People are treated with minerals for several reasons. The primary reason is to relieve…
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Full text Article Minerals

From Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils Full text Article Further Reading
Blackburn, W. H. and Dennen, W. H. Encyclopedia of Mineral Names . Edited by R. F. Martin. Canadian Mineralogist Special Publication 1, 1997. Clark, A. M. Hey's Mineral Index: mineral species, varieties and synonyms . Natural History Museum Publications and Chapman & Hall, London, 1993. Dana, E. …
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Full text Article Minerals

From Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Minerals are inorganic elements that originate in the earth and cannot be made in the body. They play important roles in various bodily functions and are necessary to sustain life and maintain optimal health and thus are essential nutrients. Most of the minerals in the human diet come directly from…
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Full text Article Minerals

From The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets
Minerals are inorganic elements that originate in the earth and cannot be made in the body. They play important roles in various bodily functions and are necessary to sustain life and maintain optimal health, and thus are essential nutrients. Most of the minerals in the human diet come directly from…
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Full text Article mineral

From The Chambers Dictionary
any of various classes of inorganic substances, esp solid, naturally occurring and crystalline in form; a substance obtained by mining; ore; a substance neither animal nor vegetable; a mine ( Shakesp ); a poison ( Shakesp ); a mineral water (in a wide sense). adj relating to minerals; having the…
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Full text Article mineral

From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary
A widely used general term referring to the nonliving constituents of the earth's crust that includes naturally occurring elements, compounds, and mixtures that have a definite range of chemical composition and properties. Usually inorganic, but sometimes including fossil fuels (e.g., coal), …
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Full text Article mineral

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Naturally formed inorganic substance with a particular chemical composition and a regularly repeating internal structure. Either in their perfect crystalline form or otherwise, minerals are the constituents of rocks . In more general usage, a mineral is any substance economically valuable for mining…
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Full text Article mineral

From The American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language
A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness. Any of various natural substances, as: a. An element, such as gold or silver. b. An organic derivative, such as coal or petroleum. c. A…
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