Question

“Minerals occur in various forms”. Support these statements with examples.

Answer 1

Hint: In geology or mineralogy, minerals can be defined as a solid chemical compound with a specific crystal structure that occurs in pure form in nature. Mineral refers to a bulk solid geologic material that is homogeneous at a large scale.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Minerals are natural substances that occur in nature in Various forms. In simple terms, a rock can be stated as an aggregate of two or more minerals. minerals may occur in the cracks, faults, crevices, or joints of the metamorphic and igneous rocks. Major metallic minerals such as copper, zinc, tin, lead, and many more are obtained from the rock. Bauxite is a type of mineral which is formed by the decomposition of surface rocks, and the removal of soluble constituents. Certain types of minerals are found in the sands of valley floors and the base of hills in the form of alluvial deposits. These deposited minerals are called placer deposits and are generally not corroded by water. Placer deposits include minerals such as gold, silver, and platinum. These minerals which are considered as metals do not get corroded by the effect of moisture and humidity. Minerals such as common salt, magnesium, and bromine are found in large quantities in the ocean waters. Thus, minerals occur in various forms in nature.

Note: Rock is distinct from the mineral. A rock may consist of one or many different types of minerals aggregated together that are spatially segregated into distinct phases. Mineraloids refers to the natural solid substances that lack a definite crystalline structure. Some examples of mineraloids are opal and obsidian. Gems are an example of minerals that have ornamental values. Some examples of gems are ruby and sapphire.