Jabarkan Dadaran jeung klasifikasi mineral dari Mineral dalam bahasa sunda

Sangkan bisa kagolongkeun mineral "tulén", hiji zat kudu mangrupa padet (solid) sarta mibanda struktur kristal. Ogé kudu mangrupa zat anorganik, produk alam, sarta homogén kalawan komposisi kimiawi anu tangtu. Pikeun conto, plagioclase feldspar mangrupa dérét kontinyu albit nu beunghar natrium (NaAlSi3O8) nepi ka anortit nu beunghar kalsium (CaAl2Si2O8) nu mibanda opat komposisi antara nu geus dipikawanoh. Zat kawas mineral nu teu bisa nedunan sarat di luhur ilahar digolongkeun kana mineraloid, sedengkeun nu séjénna mah sebut baé nonmineral.

Struktur kristal nyaéta susunan spatial géométris atom-atom na struktur jero mineral. There are 14 basic lattice arrangements of atoms in three dimensions in the six crystal systems, and all crystal structures currently recognized fit in one of these 14 arrangements. This crystal structure is based on regular internal atomic or ionic arrangement that is often visible as the mineral form. Even when the mineral grains are too small to see or are irregularly shaped the crystal structure can be determined by x-ray analysis and/or optical microscopy.

Chemistry and crystal structure define together a mineral. In fact, two or more minerals may have the same chemical composition, but differ in crystal structure (these are known as polymorphs). For example, pyrite and marcasite are both iron sulfide. Similarly, some minerals have different chemical compositions, but the same crystal structure: for example, halite (made from sodium and chlorine), galena (made from lead and sulfur) and periclase (made from magnesium and oxygen) all share the same cubic crystal structure.

Crystal structure gréatly influences a mineral's physical properties. For example, though diamond and graphite have the same composition (both are pure carbon), graphite is very soft, while diamond is the hardest of all known minerals.

There are currently just over 4,000 known minerals, according to the International Mineralogical Association, which is responsible for the approval of and naming of new mineral species found in nature.