The Difference Between Minerals and Crystals

Minerals and crystals are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings. Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure. Crystals are solids with a regular, repeating arrangement of atoms, molecules, or ions.

All minerals are crystals, but not all crystals are minerals. For example, synthetic crystals such as silicon crystals are not minerals, and organic crystals such as sugar crystals are also not minerals.

Minerals

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic substances with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure. They are the building blocks of rocks and soil, and they are used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications.

Some examples of minerals include:

  • Quartz
  • Feldspar
  • Mica
  • Galena
  • Sphalerite
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Copper

The Difference Between Minerals and Crystals
The Difference Between Minerals and Crystals.
Left: Pair of natural tanzanite crystals! From Arusha Region, Tanzania 
Credit Left: Anton Watzl
Right: Man-made Bismuth crystal

Crystals

Crystals are solids with a regular, repeating arrangement of atoms, molecules, or ions. They can form from minerals, but they can also form from other substances, such as organic materials (e.g., sugar crystals) or synthetic materials (e.g., silicon crystals). Crystals have a variety of shapes, including cubes, octahedrons, prisms, and needles.

Some examples of crystals include:

  • Quartz crystals
  • Diamond crystals
  • Fluorite crystals
  • Calcite crystals
  • Pyrite crystals
  • Halite crystals
  • Sugar crystals
  • Silicon crystals

Mineral Vs. Crystal

Characteristic Mineral Crystal
Definition Naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure Solid with a regular, repeating arrangement of atoms or molecules
Examples Quartz, mica, feldspar, calcite Quartz, table salt, sugar, diamonds
Occurrence Found naturally in the Earth Can be found naturally or grown artificially
Composition Inorganic Can be organic or inorganic


Crystals and minerals differ, not only through the ways in which they are used but they also differ in terms of structure. To put it simply, a crystal is a structure made up of various natural materials whereas a mineral is a material in itself. Two or more minerals can actually have the same chemical composition and yet completely differ when it comes to crystal structure. 

These are known as polymorphs. Crystal structure can greatly influence the physical properties of a mineral. A good example of this would be diamonds and graphite. As you already know, diamonds are known to be the hardest of all minerals and yet, whilst it has the same composition as the graphite, the latter is very malleable in nature.


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