CHARACTERISTICS OF

MINERALS

Explaining the five

characteristics of a mineral
Minerals are very important in our
lives. They can be used for energy,
trade, and many other things.
 The Characteristics
There are five characteristics of minerals.
They determine whether a rock is a
mineral or solid. The different types are:
Solid
Formed by inorganic processes
Naturally occurring
Definite chemical composition
Definite crystalline structure
If a rock has at least three of these
characteristics then it is a mineral
because some of these minerals dont
have the exact same characteristics.
 1. Solid
A solid has to have a definite volume or shape although,
all rocks have a solid shape. In rocks and minerals,
particles are packed tightly. 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 gas does.
 2. Formed by Inorganic
Processes
For a rock to be a mineral, it must form
from non-living materials. The rock
cannot come from something that is, or
was living.
 3. Naturally Occurring
Naturally occurring minerals were not
formed from factories or anything.
 4. Definite Chemical
Composition
When a mineral is made of the same
material throughout. Basically, made of
the same thing, like lava or ice or one
item. This mineral has one of these three
materials in rocks.
 5. Definite Crystallize
Structure
Has crystals inside or outside. One
example is a geode that has crystals
inside.