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Minerals

Naturally occurring substance that is solid and stable at room temperature, representable by a chemical formula, usually abiogenic, and has an ordered atomic 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. The general definition of a mineral encompasses the following criteria: 1 - Naturally occurring 2 - Stable at room temperature 3 - Represented by a chemical formula 4 - Usually abiogenic 5 - Ordered atomic arrangement

Contributors in Minerals

Minerals

tantalite

Geology; Minerals

The mineral group tantalite ((Fe, Mn)Ta 2 O 6 ) is the primary source of the chemical element tantalum. It is chemically similar to columbite, and the two are often grouped together as a ...

arsenolite

Geology; Minerals

Arsenolite is an arsenic mineral, chemical formula As 2 O 3 . It is formed as an oxidation product of arsenic sulfides. Commonly found as small octahedra it is white, but impurities of realgar or ...

aubertite

Geology; Minerals

Aubertite is a mineral with the chemical formula CuAl(SO 4 ) 2 Cl·14H 2 O. It is colored blue. Its crystals are triclinic pedial. It is transparent. It has vitreous luster. It is not radioactive. ...

bastnäsite

Geology; Minerals

The mineral bastnäsite (or bastnaesite) is one of a family of three carbonate-fluoride minerals, which includes bastnäsite-(Ce) with a formula of (Ce, La)CO 3 F, bastnäsite-(La) with a formula of ...

bonaccordite

Geology; Minerals

Bonaccordite is a rare mineral discovered in 1974. Its chemical formula is Ni 2 FeBO 5 and it is a mineral of the ludwigite group. It usually crystallizes in long, cylindrical prisms that form ...

clathrate compound

Geology; Minerals

A clathrate is a chemical substance consisting of a lattice that traps or contains molecules. The word clathrate is derived from the Latin clatratus meaning with bars or a lattice. Traditionally, ...

cordierite

Geology; Minerals

Cordierite (mineralogy) or iolite (gemology) is a magnesium iron aluminium cyclosilicate. Iron is almost always present and a solid solution exists between Mg-rich cordierite and Fe-rich sekaninaite ...

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