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๐ฌ Think about it
Rocks aren't boring grey lumps — most are mixtures of shiny minerals. Some minerals are pure elements like gold; most are compounds. The cement in your house and the talc in your powder all come from minerals. Let's dig in.
What are minerals?
- Most rocks are a mixture of minerals.
- Minerals can be seen with eyes, a lens, or a microscope.
- Native minerals are pure elements, not compounds.
- These can be metals (gold, silver, copper) or non-metals (sulfur, carbon).
Example:
Gold and silver found in the earth are native minerals (pure elements).
Are most minerals elements or compounds?
- Most minerals are compounds made of more than one element.
- Examples are quartz, calcite, mica, pyroxene, and olivine.
- Many everyday things come from minerals.
- Cement comes from calcite, quartz, alumina, and iron oxide.
Example:
Talcum powder is made from the mineral talc.
Important Points
- Most rocks are mixtures of minerals.
- Native minerals are pure elements; most minerals are compounds.
- Cement and talcum powder come from minerals.
โ Test Yourself
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What is a mineral?
View Answer
A natural solid substance found in the Earth with a fixed chemical composition. Most rocks are mixtures of minerals. -
What is a native mineral?
View Answer
A mineral that is a pure element, not a compound — like gold, silver, copper, sulfur, or carbon. -
Are most minerals elements or compounds?
View Answer
Most are compounds made of more than one element. Only a few are pure elements. -
Name two everyday products made from minerals.
View Answer
Cement (from calcite, quartz, alumina, iron oxide) and talcum powder (from talc). -
Give two examples of common minerals.
View Answer
Quartz, calcite, mica, pyroxene, or olivine — any two.
๐ Our scientific heritage
- Dhokra art is an old craft from Bihar and Odisha using metals.
- A design is shaped in beeswax, then covered with clay to make a mould.
- The wax is melted out and molten brass or bronze is poured in.
- This gives the figures a strong, shiny golden look.
Important Definitions
- Mineral — a natural solid substance found in the Earth with a fixed chemical composition.
- Native mineral — a mineral that is a pure element, not a compound (e.g. gold, sulfur).
๐ NCERT Question 12 — How can gold be
How can gold be classified as both a mineral and a metal?
View Answer →
