Final answer:
Rocks are composed of minerals, but there are differences between them. Rocks can have a combination of minerals or just one mineral, while minerals have a specific chemical formula and crystal structure. There are three basic rock types, and minerals are classified into thousands of known types.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rocks are made up of minerals, but there are some key differences between them:
Composition: Rocks are composed of different combinations of minerals or just one mineral, while minerals are naturally occurring solids with a specific chemical formula and crystal structure.
Identification: Identifying minerals in rocks can be difficult, even for experts, as they can be challenging to distinguish. However, breaking a mineral into smaller pieces will still yield pieces of the same mineral.
Types: There are three basic rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Each rock type forms through different processes, such as cooling of magma/lava, cementation of broken rock pieces, or alteration by heat and pressure. Minerals, on the other hand, are classified into thousands of known types.