Minerals

'''Minerals''' are natural occurring, inorganic materials of consistent chemical composition. Usually their atoms are arranged in a definite crystal structure. Most [[Gemstones|gemstones]] are minerals. Since they have a uniform chemical composition each mineral has consistent set of physical and optical properties.

==Mineraloids==
Material found in the earth that originated from living organisms such as amber and jet are called mineraloids.

==Rocks==
Rocks are a combination of two or more minerals. Gemstones such as lapis lazuli which is a mixture if lazurite, calcite and sometimes pyrite are classified as rocks.

[[Category:Gemology]]
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 '''Minerals''' are natural occurring, inorganic materials of consistent chemical composition. Usually their atoms are arranged in a definite crystal structure. Most [[Gemstones|gemstones]] are minerals. Since they have a uniform chemical composition each mineral has consistent set of physical and optical properties.
-==Classification==
-Mineralogists and Gemologists classify minerals by 'group', 'species', and 'variety'.
-===Group===
-Groups can contain two or more minerals with similar properties and structure but slightly differ in chemical properties. For example when one chemical element replaces another in the same formula.
-====Garnets====
-Garnets are classified as a 'group' unlike other families that are classified as a 'species'. This is because the color variations in garnets are due to differences in their actual chemical structure rather then the presence of impurities as in other gem families.
-===Species===
-Each specific member of a 'group' is a 'species' which can then contain numerous 'varieties'. All stones in a 'species' have the same crystal structure and chemical composition and differ only in color.
-===Variety===
-Color variation in the different varieties of a species are caused by the presence of minute impurities.
 ==Mineraloids==
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 ==Rocks==
-Rocks are a combination of two or more minerals. Gemstones such as lapis lazuli which is a mixture of lazurite, calcite and sometimes pyrite are classified as rocks.
+Rocks are a combination of two or more minerals. Gemstones such as lapis lazuli which is a mixture if lazurite, calcite and sometimes pyrite are classified as rocks.
 [[Category:Gemology]]