Nonmineral
Encyclopedia
A nonmineral is a substance found in a natural environment that does not satisfy the definition of a mineral
and is not even a mineraloid
. Many non-minerals are mined and have industrial or other uses similar to minerals, such as jewelry.
, arising from geological processes, and having a crystal
structure. Traditionally, it must also be an inorganic, naturally occurring, homogeneous substance with a defined chemical composition, but now organically derived substances that have been transformed into a crystalline structure are minerals.
and Mica
, are not homogeneous substances, but are a mixture of related minerals, sometimes referred to as a mineral group.
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
and is not even a mineraloid
Mineraloid
A mineraloid is a mineral-like substance that does not demonstrate crystallinity. Mineraloids possess chemical compositions that vary beyond the generally accepted ranges for specific minerals. For example, obsidian is an amorphous glass and not a crystal. Jet is derived from decaying wood under...
. Many non-minerals are mined and have industrial or other uses similar to minerals, such as jewelry.
Mineral definition
To be classified as a "true" mineral, a substance must be a solidSolid
Solid is one of the three classical states of matter . It is characterized by structural rigidity and resistance to changes of shape or volume. Unlike a liquid, a solid object does not flow to take on the shape of its container, nor does it expand to fill the entire volume available to it like a...
, arising from geological processes, and having a crystal
Crystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography...
structure. Traditionally, it must also be an inorganic, naturally occurring, homogeneous substance with a defined chemical composition, but now organically derived substances that have been transformed into a crystalline structure are minerals.
Common Nonminerals
- Allingite, another name for amber.
- AmberAmberAmber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
, organic, non-crystal structure. - Anthracite, a variety of coal, "hard coal."
- Beckerite, another name for amber.
- Bitumen, a natural mixture of organic molecules forming a viscous liquid.
- Burmite, another name for amber.
- CoalCoalCoal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, organic, non-homogeneous, and non-crystal structure. - CoproliteCoproliteA coprolite is fossilized animal dung. Coprolites are classified as trace fossils as opposed to body fossils, as they give evidence for the animal's behaviour rather than morphology. The name is derived from the Greek words κοπρος / kopros meaning 'dung' and λιθος / lithos meaning 'stone'. They...
, fossilized feces, a fossilFossilFossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
of organic origin. - CoquinaCoquinaCoquina is a sedimentary rock that is composed either wholly or almost entirely of the transported, abraded, and mechanically sorted fragments of the shells of either molluscs, trilobites, brachiopods, or other invertebrates. For a sediment to be considered to be a coquina, the average size of the...
, non-homogeneous, non-crystal limestone formed from marine shells and coral. - EboniteEboniteEbonite is a brand name for very hard rubber first obtained by Charles Goodyear by vulcanizing rubber for prolonged periods. It is about 30% to 40% sulfur. Its name comes from its intended use as an artificial substitute for ebony wood...
, a synthetic material composed of rubber with high sulfur content (same as Vulcanite). - Gedanite, another name for amber.
- GilsoniteGilsoniteGilsonite is the registered trademark for a form of natural asphalt found only in the Uintah Basin of Utah; the non-trademarked mineral name is uintaite or uintahite. It is mined in underground shafts and resembles shiny black obsidian...
, natural asphaltAsphaltAsphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
. - GlassGlassGlass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
, non-crystalline substance of varying chemical composition. - Glessite, another name for amber.
- JetJet (lignite)Jet is a geological material and is considered to be a minor gemstone. Jet is not considered a true mineral, but rather a mineraloid as it has an organic origin, being derived from decaying wood under extreme pressure....
, not considered a true mineral due to organic, non-crystal nature, a mineraloid. - KerogenKerogenKerogen is a mixture of organic chemical compounds that make up a portion of the organic matter in sedimentary rocks. It is insoluble in normal organic solvents because of the huge molecular weight of its component compounds. The soluble portion is known as bitumen. When heated to the right...
, a natural organic precursor to petroleum and natural gas. - Krantzite, another name for amber.
- LigniteLigniteLignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad,is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat...
, a variety of coal, "brown coal." - LimoniteLimoniteLimonite is an ore consisting in a mixture of hydrated iron oxide-hydroxide of varying composition. The generic formula is frequently written as FeO·nH2O, although this is not entirely accurate as limonite often contains a varying amount of oxide compared to hydroxide.Together with hematite, it has...
, amorphous hydrated iron oxide, a mineraloid. - MercuryMercury (element)Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, while a liquid at normal temperatures, but often classed as a mineral http://www.mindat.org/min-2647.html http://www.webmineral.com/data/Mercury.shtml. - ObsidianObsidianObsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock.It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth...
, usually not considered a mineral due to non-crystal structure. - OpalOpalOpal is an amorphous form of silica related to quartz, a mineraloid form, not a mineral. 3% to 21% of the total weight is water, but the content is usually between 6% to 10%. It is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most...
, non-crystal structure, a mineraloid. - PearlPearlA pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
, often considered a mineral due to crystal components, but then not a mineral due to organic origin, probably should be a mineraloid. - PetroleumPetroleumPetroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
, organic and liquid. - RocksRock (geology)In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
, most rocks are mixtures of minerals, but some are composed of just one mineral. - Pyrobitumen, organic, nonhomogeneous, non-crystal structure.
- Stantienite, another name for amber.
- SaussuriteSaussuriteSaussurite is a mineral aggregate which is formed as a hydrothermal alteration product of plagioclase feldspar. It appears very similar to zoisite with a green or grayish-green color, it has been used as a substitute or simulant for jade....
, an aggregate of minerals. - Synthetic diamondSynthetic diamondSynthetic diamond is diamond produced in a technological process; as opposed to natural diamond, which is created in geological processes. Synthetic diamond is also widely known as HPHT diamond or CVD diamond, denoting the production method, High-Pressure High-Temperature synthesis and Chemical...
, not naturally occurring like most other synthetic gems, but difficult to distinguish from naturally occurring forms. - Vulcanite, vulcanizeVulcanizationVulcanization or vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulfur or other equivalent "curatives." These additives modify the polymer by forming crosslinks between individual polymer chains. Vulcanized material is...
d natural or synthetic rubber, thus not a mineral due to organic composition, lack of crystal structure, and not naturally occurring. - WaterWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, a liquid (but naturally occurring iceIceIce is water frozen into the solid state. Usually ice is the phase known as ice Ih, which is the most abundant of the varying solid phases on the Earth's surface. It can appear transparent or opaque bluish-white color, depending on the presence of impurities or air inclusions...
is a mineral).
Other considerations
Some minerals, such as the well-known ApatiteApatite
Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually referring to hydroxylapatite, fluorapatite, chlorapatite and bromapatite, named for high concentrations of OH−, F−, Cl− or Br− ions, respectively, in the crystal...
and Mica
Mica
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
, are not homogeneous substances, but are a mixture of related minerals, sometimes referred to as a mineral group.