Collecting rocks and minerals begins with a keen interest in the debris that, in nature, litters our planet. Holding a rock in one s hand reveals many characteristics, such as texture, color and size. To even start a rock and mineral collection implies the willingness to delve into simple characteristics such as these so that underlying processes towards their formation may be revealed. To begin collecting rocks and minerals, one must first know what a rock is, and what a mineral is.
Rocks are actually solid mineral deposits.
Thus, all rocks are minerals, but not all minerals are rocks. A mineral, on the other hand, is a substance composed of one or two elements. It is neither alive nor is it a direct biological product of something that is alive. Many valuable metals that exist as ore within the earth are minerals, like gold, silver and copper. Crystals, which we often see in jewelry, are also minerals.