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How can you tell whether a unknown substance is a mineral

User Shakemia
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A mineral is any chemical compound with a constant chemical composition, which of course is the definition of a "pure substance".

In earth science you might be distinguishing between "rock" and "mineral". A mineral is a pure substance. A rock is a mixture of two or more minerals in various proportions.

For instance, the rock granite is made up of three minerals: quartz, feldspar and biotite (mica).
User JamesWampler
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