Question

Of the Earth's more than 2,000 identified minerals, only a small number are commonly found in rocks. This fact indicates that most:

A) Minerals are extremely rare and valuable.
B) Rocks are primarily composed of man-made minerals.
C) Minerals have no impact on the formation of rocks.
D) Minerals are not evenly distributed in Earth's crust.

Answer 1

Option (D), The fact that only a small number of the Earth's identified minerals are found in rocks suggests that minerals are unevenly distributed in the Earth's crust.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fact that of the Earth's more than 2,000 identified minerals, only a small number are commonly found in rocks, indicates that minerals are not evenly distributed in Earth's crust. This uneven distribution is evident as only a handful of minerals make up the majority of the earth's crust, with just seven minerals accounting for 84% of it.

Geologists, when studying rocks, examine the mineral content to determine rock types, which are primarily igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Minerals are defined as naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure.