The following statements summarize the primary objectives presented in the chapter. A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid that possesses a definite chemical structure, which gives it a unique set of physical properties.
Most rocks are aggregates composed of two or more minerals.
The building blocks of minerals are elements . An atom is the smallest particle of matter that still retains the characteristics of an element. Each atom has a nucleus which contains protons and neutrons . Orbiting the nucleus of an atom are electrons. The number of protons in an atom's nucleus determines its atomic number and the name of the element.