Question

Describe 2 ways in which you can distinguish between a rock and a mineral.

Answer 1

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure formed by geological processes. A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals whereas a rock may also include organic remains and mineraloids. Some rocks are predominantly composed of just one mineral.

Answer 2

Minerals are inorganic materials that naturally occur, and have a definite crystal structure along with a chemical composition.

However, rocks are made up of two or more of these minerals. So technically, minerals are like the building blocks of rocks, while rocks are the product of two of the building blocks.

Also, rocks are generally found in the upper layers of the Earth, while the minerals are the opposite, found in deeper or confined layers of the Earth.