Mineraloid
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A mineraloid is a mineral-like substance that does not demonstrate crystallinity. Mineraloids possess chemical compositions that vary beyond the generally accepted ranges for specific minerals. For example, obsidian is an amorphous glass and not a crystal. Jet is a dense form of coal. Opal is another mineraloid because of its non-crystal nature. Pearls, considered by some to be a mineral because of the presence of calcium carbonate crystals within their structure, would be better considered a mineraloid because the crystals are bonded by an organic material and there is no definite proportion of the components.
[edit] Common Mineraloids
- Amber, organic, non-crystal structure.
- Anthracite, a variety of coal, "hard coal."
- Coal, organic, nonhomogeneous, and non-crystal structure.
- Jet, not considered a true mineral due to organic, non-crystal nature, a mineraloid.
- Lignite, a variety of coal, "Brown coal."
- Limonite, amorphous hydrated iron oxide, a mineraloid.
- Obsidian, volcanic glass - non-crystal structure.
- Opal, non-crystal structure, a mineraloid.
- Pearl, often considered a mineral due to crystal components, but then not a mineral due to organic origin, probably should be a mineraloid.
- Petroleum, organic and liquid.
- pyrobitumen, organic, nonhomogeous, non-crystal structure.
- Vulcanite, vulcanized natural or synthetic rubber, thus not a mineral due to organic composition, lack of crystal structure, and not naturally occurring.
[edit] See also
- List of minerals Mineraloids are listed alphabetically after minerals.
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