What Are the Similarities and Differences Between Rocks and Minerals?
Rocks and minerals are inorganic compounds and occur throughout the world but have distinct physical characteristics, distinguishing features and societal uses that set them apart. Minerals are generally lighter in weight and color than rocks and hold value for their aesthetic properties. Rocks, in contrast, are denser, darker and hardier and find use in the industrial and construction industries.
Rocks and minerals are both geological substances found throughout the world. They occur on every continent and coexist on many natural Earth surfaces. But they also have several key differences, ranging from aesthetics to physical and chemical composition, which make them distinct from each other.
Minerals, such as rocks, are naturally occurring elements. They are formed through complex geological processes and have defined chemical compositions, ordered atomic structures and specific physical properties. They have been around since the Earth’s formation and can be found in many places around the globe. Minerals are classified as inorganic compounds, meaning that they are not living organisms and therefore do not reproduce on their own. Minerals vary widely in color, which ranges from pearly white and virtually translucent to solid colors such as gold, turquoise and crimson.
Rocks, like minerals, are inorganic compounds. They are also found around the world, and as with minerals, they may be classified by their chemical compositions. Rocks, however, may be classified by a third characteristic, which is that of their formative processes. Unlike minerals, which fall under one broad class, rocks are subdivided into three basic forms. Rocks do not play a role in biological processes, but their heavier weights and hardier structures make them perfectly suited for use in the industrial and construction industries. For thousands of years, rocks have been mined from beneath the Earth’s surface and removed from its crust to make roads, build bridges and create structural foundations for homes, offices, libraries and other buildings. A select few, namely granite and marble, are durable and attractive enough to be used for home improvement projects and renovations.
