A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition. Minerals form naturally in the Earth, such as quartz from cooling magma or halite (table salt) from evaporated seas. Being a solid means they have a definite shape and volume. Inorganic means they generally lack carbon and hydrogen bonds. Minerals also have a repeating crystal pattern formed by a basic building block called a unit cell, which determines the mineral’s structure. All minerals can be classified based on their crystal structure.
Rocks are made of one or more minerals (and sometimes organic material), but they do not have the consistent chemical composition or repeating atomic structure that minerals do. There are three main types of rocks:
Igneous rocks form from molten rock (magma inside Earth or lava on the surface).
Metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks change due to heat and pressure. They can be foliated (layered) or non-foliated (not layered).
Sedimentary rocks form from sediments, which are pieces of pre-existing rocks or remains of living organisms that accumulate and harden over time.
In short, minerals are the building blocks of rocks, but rocks are mixtures of minerals and sometimes organic materials.
Mineral vs Rock Worksheet
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