Definition of Minerals
Before we venture into discussing various types of Minerals, it is imperative to understand what exactly Minerals are. We mine a lot of materials from the Earth's Crust. For example, Metal Ores, Coal, Oil, Sand, etc. For the purpose of definition, Minerals are specifically defined as naturally occurring Inorganic Substances which are found in solid-state. Minerals have a well-defined chemical structure, formula and crystal structures. Different Minerals vary in their physical properties such as color, density, crystal structure, hardness etc. Some Minerals may be found in large abundance as compared to others. For example, silica can be considered as the most abundant mineral on Earth’s crust. The abundance can also vary from location to location.
Types of Minerals
Broadly, Minerals can be classified as Metallic and Non-Metallic Minerals.
Metallic Minerals: As the name suggests, Metallic Minerals are those which are formed by various metals by reacting with other elements. These Minerals also show physical properties similar to metals, such as luster. Depending on the chemical composition, Metallic Minerals can be oxides, sulfides, carbonates, halides etc. But some of the Metallic Minerals are also found in their pure forms, such as Gold. Iron is one of the most commonly used metals on Earth, hence a sub-classification of Metallic Minerals can also be in the form of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Minerals. Ferrous Minerals contain Iron while Non –Ferrous Minerals do not contain Iron.
All of the Metallic ores such as Magnetite, Pyrite, Bauxite, Hematite etc. can be called Metallic Minerals.
Non-Metallic Minerals: These Minerals do not contain any metals, so they generally have Non-Metallic physical properties. Though we cannot extract metals from these Minerals, Non-Metallic Minerals are still of immense use to humankind. Silica is one of the most abundant Non-Metallic Minerals and is used for construction activities. Coal is used to produce heat which is in turn used to produce electrical power in thermal power plants. Diamond is a rare mineral that is used as a gemstone in jewelry.
The above-discussed classification of Minerals is at a broad level. You can also dig deeper within each classification for further details, but that is out of the purview of this topic.
Examples of Minerals and their Uses
Here is a list of Minerals that are immensely used to improve our day-to-day lives.
Hematite: It is a Metallic Mineral and an Iron Oxide. It’s formula is Fe2O3. It is used to extract iron and is one of the many Iron Ores. Other Iron ores are Magnetite, Limonite, and Siderite.
Gold: Gold is also a Metallic Mineral that is generally found in its elemental form (i.e. not in a compound) or as an Alloy with Mercury or Silver. Gold has been used for centuries as jewelry and as a store of value or currency.
Coal: Coal is a black hard substance that is mostly Carbon. It is one of the most commonly used fossil fuels. It was earlier used to run steam engines but is now mostly used to produce electricity in thermal power stations. It is also used as a domestic fuel, albeit at a low scale.
Diamond: Diamond is another form of Carbon that is one of the hardest substances found in nature. Some diamonds are very lustrous and are used as ornaments. Other diamonds, which do not find any use in jewelry, are used as cutters in industries.
Difference Between Metallic and Non-Metallic Minerals
Energy Minerals are studied under the category of fossil fuels. They are quite visibly different from Metallic and Non-Metallic Minerals. But generally, students get confused between Metallic and Non-Metallic Minerals so for your clear understanding we are providing here key differences between Metallic and Non-Metallic Minerals
So, this was brief on Minerals, their types, and their uses. If you want to understand more and also learn other topics, you can log on to the Vedantu website or also download the Vedantu learning app.
FAQs on Types of Minerals
1. What are the main types of minerals based on their composition?
Minerals are primarily classified into three main types based on their composition and properties:
- Metallic Minerals: These contain one or more metals in their raw form. They are good conductors of heat and electricity and have a characteristic lustre. Examples include iron ore (from which iron is extracted), bauxite (for aluminium), and copper ore.
- Non-Metallic Minerals: These minerals do not contain metals. They are valued for their physical and chemical properties. Examples include limestone, mica, gypsum, and potash.
- Energy Minerals: These are used as fuel to generate energy. Examples include fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas, as well as radioactive minerals like uranium.
2. How are minerals classified based on their chemical structure?
Chemists and geologists classify minerals into groups based on their chemical makeup, primarily the anion or anionic group present. The most common groups include:
- Silicates: The largest group, containing silicon and oxygen. Examples are quartz and feldspar.
- Carbonates: Contain the carbonate group (CO₃). Calcite and dolomite are common examples.
- Oxides: Consist of metals combined with oxygen. Examples include hematite (iron oxide) and corundum.
- Sulfides: Contain sulfur bonded to a metal. Pyrite (fool's gold) and galena are well-known sulfides.
- Sulfates: Contain the sulfate group (SO₄). Gypsum and barite belong to this group.
- Halides: Feature a halogen element (like chlorine or fluorine) as the main anion. Halite (rock salt) is a prime example.
- Native Elements: These are minerals composed of a single element, such as gold, silver, copper, and diamond (carbon).
3. What is the fundamental difference between a mineral and a rock?
The key difference lies in their composition. A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a specific crystalline structure. For example, quartz (SiO₂) is a mineral. In contrast, a rock is an aggregate or mixture of one or more minerals. For instance, granite is a rock composed of multiple minerals, primarily quartz, feldspar, and mica. While a mineral has a fixed identity, a rock's composition can vary.
4. What are some important examples of metallic and non-metallic minerals used in everyday life?
Minerals are essential to our daily lives. Here are some examples:
- Metallic Minerals: Iron is used to make steel for construction, automobiles, and appliances. Copper is vital for electrical wiring and plumbing. Aluminium, extracted from bauxite, is used in aircraft, packaging, and window frames due to its light weight and strength.
- Non-Metallic Minerals: Limestone is a key ingredient in cement. Silica (from quartz) is used to make glass. Gypsum is used to produce plasterboard for walls. Halite is simply table salt, used for flavouring and preserving food.
5. Why are silicate minerals the most abundant type in the Earth's crust?
Silicate minerals are the most common because their primary building blocks, silicon (Si) and oxygen (O), are the two most abundant elements in the Earth's crust. These two elements have a strong affinity for each other and combine to form the stable silica tetrahedron (SiO₄), which serves as the fundamental structure for all silicate minerals. This basic unit can link together in various ways—forming chains, sheets, and complex 3D frameworks—creating the vast diversity of silicate minerals like quartz, feldspar, and mica that make up over 90% of the crust.
6. How can you identify different types of minerals in the field?
Geologists identify minerals based on their unique physical properties, which provide clues to their composition and structure. Key properties to observe include:
- Lustre: How the mineral's surface reflects light (e.g., metallic, glassy, dull).
- Hardness: The mineral's resistance to being scratched, often tested using the Mohs scale.
- Colour: The visible colour of the mineral, though it can sometimes be misleading.
- Streak: The colour of the powdered mineral when scraped against an unglazed porcelain plate.
- Cleavage/Fracture: How a mineral breaks—either along smooth, flat planes (cleavage) or in irregular patterns (fracture).
- Crystal Form: The natural geometric shape of the mineral if it had space to grow freely.
7. Why is the conservation of mineral resources considered so important?
Conservation of minerals is crucial because they are non-renewable resources. The geological processes that form minerals take millions of years, meaning the deposits we use today cannot be replaced within a human lifespan. Unchecked consumption leads to rapid depletion, environmental damage from mining, and economic instability. Therefore, practising conservation through methods like recycling metals, improving mining technology to reduce waste, and using resources sustainably is essential to ensure they remain available for future generations.
