Describe the characteristics a substance must possess in order to qualify as a mineral, and then describe which of the following cannot be minerals, listing a specific reason for each

a. Gold nugget
b. Seawater
c. Quartz
d. Cubic zirconia
e. Obsidian
f. Ruby
g. Glacial ice
h. Amber
What will be an ideal response?


Answer: Minerals are (1) naturally occurring (2) inorganic (3) solids that (4) possess an orderly crystalline structure and (5) a characteristic chemical composition. Gold is a mineral; seawater isn't because it isn't solid; quartz is; cubic zirconia isn't because it's not naturally occurring; obsidian isn't because it lacks an orderly crystalline structure; ruby is; glacial ice is; and amber is not because it lacks an orderly crystalline structure.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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