mineral
Inorganic natural solid
A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic substance with a specific chemical composition and crystalline structure—quartz, felite, copper.
Rocks are made of minerals.
The term extends to substances extracted from the earth for human use: mineral rights, mineral deposits.
Mineral water contains dissolved minerals.
As an adjective, mineral describes things derived from or relating to such substances: mineral oil, mineral wealth.
Solid earthen material
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- strataParallel geological layers
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
granite · schist · gneiss · marble · quartzite · slate · limestone · shale
Metal-bearing rock
- extractionAct of removing
- smeltingExtracting metal from ore
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
- depositPlace for safekeeping
vein · quarry · tailings · metallurgy · drilling · excavation · prospecting · shaft
Oxygen-bound crystal compound
- carbonateAdd dissolved gas
- phosphatePO₄ ion compound
- sulfateAcidic salt compound
- halideHalogen-element compound
oxide · hydroxide · calcite · dolomite · magnetite · hematite · pyrite · feldspar
Resistance to penetration
- lusterSoft reflected light
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- fractureSplit in hard material
- streakUnbroken series
specific gravity · tenacity · brittle · vitreous · metallic · pearly · adamantine · translucent
Crystalline silicon dioxide
- amethystPurple semiprecious quartz
- diamondCrystallized carbon gemstone
- sapphireBlue precious corundum
- rubyPrecious red gemstone
emerald · topaz · garnet · peridot · turquoise · opal · beryl · citrine
Essential organic nutrient
- supplementSomething added to complete
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- ironElement twenty-six
- zincElement thirty
magnesium · potassium · deficiency · RDA · fortified · absorption · bioavailability · dietary
Eleventh element, highly reactive
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- ironElement twenty-six
- magnesiumAlkaline earth metal
- potassiumNineteenth element, symbol K
silicon · phosphorus · sulfur · chlorine · manganese · copper · zinc · cobalt
Recoiling metal spiral
- sparklingEmitting small bright flashes
- carbonatedInfused with gas
- effervescentFizzing with gas bubbles
- spaTherapeutic wellness facility
bottled · natural · source · aquifer · dissolved · salts · sulfurous · therapeutic
rock
Solid earthen material
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- strataParallel geological layers
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
basalt · granite · schist · gneiss · marble · quartzite · slate · limestone · shale · tectonics
ore
Metal-bearing rock
- extractionAct of removing
- smeltingExtracting metal from ore
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
deposit · vein · quarry · tailings · metallurgy · drilling · excavation · prospecting · shaft · pickaxe
silicate
Oxygen-bound crystal compound
halide · oxide · hydroxide · calcite · dolomite · magnetite · hematite · pyrite · feldspar · bauxite
hardness
Resistance to penetration
streak · specific gravity · tenacity · brittle · vitreous · metallic · pearly · adamantine · translucent · opaque
quartz
Crystalline silicon dioxide
ruby · emerald · topaz · garnet · peridot · turquoise · opal · beryl · citrine · geode
vitamin
Essential organic nutrient
- supplementSomething added to complete
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- ironElement twenty-six
zinc · magnesium · potassium · deficiency · RDA · fortified · absorption · bioavailability · dietary · tablet
sodium
Eleventh element, highly reactive
potassium · silicon · phosphorus · sulfur · chlorine · manganese · copper · zinc · cobalt · iodine
spring
Recoiling metal spiral
- sparklingEmitting small bright flashes
- carbonatedInfused with gas
- effervescentFizzing with gas bubbles
spa · bottled · natural · source · aquifer · dissolved · salts · sulfurous · therapeutic · Perrier
- nutrientsprotein, vitamins, fats, vitamin, proteins
- Substancesmatter, elements, compounds, molecules, atoms
- geologicaligneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, volcanic, tectonic
- specimensspecimen, fossil, crystal, geode, skeleton
- Earthearth, Earth, globe, continent, axis
- materialsmetal, metals, wood, ceramic, fabric
mineralorganic
From living matter
vegetable · animal · plant · biological · flora
mineralsynthetic
Produced artificially, not natural
artificial · man-made · organic · biological · plant-based
- mineral waterNaturally occurring dissolved-element beverage
- trace mineralsEssential elements in tiny amounts
- coal minerUnderground fuel extractor
- rare mineralsScarce natural inorganic substances
- gold minerExtracts precious ore underground
- mineral bathsNatural therapeutic soaking waters
miner, minerals, miners, mineral water, mineralogy, mineralize, mineralization, mineralized, mineralogist