What are the similarities between rocks and minerals

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Comparison chart
Scientific Study
Composition
Classification
References

A mineral is a solid formation that occurs naturally in the earth while a rock is a solid combination of more than one mineral formations which is also occurring naturally.

A mineral has a unique chemical composition and is necessarily defined by its crystalline structure and shape. On the other hand, since a rock can be composed of several minerals it is classified according to the process of its formation. A rock can also contain organic remains and mineraloids apart from regular mineral formations. There are some rocks that may include just one mineral formation though.

The commercial value of minerals is immense and rocks are mined to extract these minerals. Such rocks are known as ores and the residue of the rock after the mineral has been extracted is called tailing.

The classification of rocks also depends on their mineral and chemical composition, texture and the process of formation. Rocks are therefore classified as igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. A rock cycle defines how one rock form changes to another. For example, a sedimentary rock form is limestone that is composed only of the mineral calcite.

Main rocks on earth contain minerals like magnetite, quartz, feldspar, mica, epidote etc. But more than half of the mineral types classified in geological studies are considered rare. Igneous rocks are formed when molten lava solidifies after a volcanic eruption and is known to be rich in the mineral granite.

Sedimentary rocks are formed when deposition of organic matter, chemical precipitates etc takes place. These usually contain minerals like shale, siltstone, sandstone, etc. The metamorphic rocks are formed by the transformation of one rock type to another. No such process is applicable to minerals.

Rocks have great cultural, commercial and social value only because of the mineral present in them. Rocks are also used to establish dates of various civilizations that have existed on earth.

Common Characteristics

Although there may be many differences between rocks and minerals, there are only a few similarities between them. Rocks as well as minerals are found in the Earth's crust (the outer layer of the Earth). Another similarity between the two is that rocks as well as minerals both have commercial value. Rocks are important for the minerals they contain while minerals are used widely in all areas of the manufacturing industry. Finally, both rocks and minerals serve as raw materials in the industrial process for manufacturing products used for everyday purposes.

Numerous Uses

There are several uses of rocks and minerals in the world today. Aluminum is used for making cans, containers and for appliances used in the home. Chromite is used for making chromed parts of automobiles. Ores of copper are used in making coins, jewelery, cooking utensils and wiring equipment used for electrical devices, televisions, computers, automobiles, etc. Halite, more commonly known as salt, is used in cooking and food preservation.

It is also used as a water softener and for de-icing on highways. Limestone is used as a component of cement which is used in the construction of homes, sidewalks, bridges and buildings. Fluorite find its uses in the production of hydrofluoric acid, but its main use is in toothpastes to help protect your teeth. Lead is used in making batteries and as a protective shield in the doctor's office from X-rays.

Rocks and minerals are fascinating topics of study for both scientists and students. While their own characteristics define them, they are sort of like distant cousins - having some similarities but keeping within their own immediate families.

A mineral is a naturally-occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure and specific physical properties. A rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids. Rocks do not have a definite chemical composition.

Comparison chart

Minerals versus Rocks comparison chart

	Minerals	Rocks
Chemical composition	Has a definite chemical composition; minerals are inorganic compounds.	Does not have a definite chemical composition
Examples	Zinc, potassium, iron, sodium, fluoride	Limestone, Basalt, Coal, Claystone
Study	Mineralogy	Petrology
Function in biology	Minerals help in bone and tooth formation, blood coagulation and muscle contraction.	shelter and foundation
color	color is usually the same	color is not the same
Nutritional requirement for the human body	Only some minerals are required by the human body for nutrition.	little to none
shape	usually have a shape	no definite shape
fossils	no fossils	some have fossils

Scientific Study

Petrology is the scientific study of rocks while the the study of minerals is called mineralogy.

Composition

Rocks are generally made of two or more minerals. A main determining factor in the formation of minerals in a rock mass is the chemical composition of the mass, for a certain mineral can be formed only when the necessary elements are present in the rock. Calcite is most common in limestones, as these consist essentially of calcium carbonate; quartz is common in sandstones and in certain igneous rocks like granite which contain a high percentage of silica. Two rock masses may have very much the same bulk composition and yet consist of entirely different assemblages of minerals.

Composition of minerals varies from one mineral to another. Some may have a high content of carbonate while others may have a high content of oxides. Even their physical characteristics may vary. While one may be known for its hardness, another may have a characteristic luster. All these variations also form standards for classifying them in broad categories.

Classification

Rocks are classified by their mineral and chemical composition, by the texture of the constituent particles and by the processes that formed them. These indicators separate rocks into igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks are formed when molten magma cools and are divided into two main categories: plutonic rock and volcanic. Sedimentary rocks are formed by deposition of either clastic sediments, organic matter, or chemical precipitates (evaporites), followed by compaction of the particulate matter and cementation during diagenesis. Metamorphic rocks are formed by subjecting any rock type (including previously-formed metamorphic rock) to different temperature and pressure conditions than those in which the original rock was formed.

There are currently more than 4,000 known minerals, according to the International Mineralogical Association, which is responsible for the approval of and naming of new mineral species found in nature. Of these, perhaps 150 can be called "common," 50 are "occasional," and the rest are "rare" to "extremely rare."

Minerals may be classified according to chemical composition, for example- The silicate class, the carbonate class, element class etc. A mineral can be identified by several physical properties such as crystal structure, hardness, color, luster, specific gravity etc.

Uses

Rocks are very useful in making roads, buildings, polishing materials, industrial work etc. Rocks like granite and marble are now used in home improvement for aesthetic reasons.

Different minerals are useful for various purposes like the gem industry, for carving, as abrasives and for formation of other elements or rocks.