The difference between a mineral and a rock is that a mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a specific crystalline structure, while a rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals or mineraloids without a fixed chemical composition or crystalline structure. In other words, minerals are pure substances with a consistent atomic arrangement, whereas rocks are made up of multiple minerals combined physically.
Characteristics of Minerals
- Minerals have a unique chemical composition and an ordered internal atomic structure (crystalline).
- They form through processes like crystallization from molten magma, precipitation, or metamorphic changes.
- Examples of minerals include quartz, feldspar, mica, and calcite.
Characteristics of Rocks
- Rocks consist of one or more minerals or mineraloids aggregated together.
- They do not have a set chemical composition or internal atomic structure.
- Rocks form through geological processes such as cooling and solidification of magma (igneous), compaction of sediments (sedimentary), or heat and pressure altering other rocks (metamorphic).
- Examples of rocks include granite (made of quartz, feldspar, mica), basalt, limestone, and sandstone.
Thus, minerals can be considered building blocks of rocks, and rocks can be composed of a single mineral or multiple different minerals in combination.
