Minerals

Minerals are important for your body to stay healthy. Your body uses minerals for many different jobs, including building bones, making hormones and regulating your heartbeat.

There are two kinds of minerals: macrominerals and trace minerals. Macrominerals are minerals your body needs in larger amounts. They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfur. Your body needs just small amounts of trace minerals. These include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride and selenium.

The best way to get the minerals your body needs is by eating a wide variety of foods. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a mineral supplement.

Mineral on Wikipedia

'''Minerals''' are natural compounds formed through geology processes. The term "mineral" encompasses not only the material's chemical composition but also the Mineral structures. Minerals range in composition from pure Chemical elements and simple salts to very complex silicates with thousands of known forms (organic compounds are usually excluded). The study of minerals is called ]

Mineral definition and classification

To be classified as a "true" mineral, a substance must be a solid and have a crystal structure. It must also be an inorganic, naturally-occurring, homogenous substance with a defined chemical composition. The chemical composition may vary between end members of a mineral system. For example the plagioclase feldspars comprise a continuous series from sodium-rich albite (NaAlSi₃O₈) to calcium-rich anorthite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈) with four recognized intermediate compositions between. Mineral-like substances that don't strictly meet the definition are sometimes classified as mineraloids. Other natural-occurring substances are Nonminerals. A '''crystal structure''' is the orderly geometric spatial arrangement of atoms in the internal structure of a 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 ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Organa Online: Salt of the Earth - tells the background of the movie, made during the height of the McCarthy era by a group of blacklisted filmmakers. Based on a 1950 strike by zinc miners in Silver City, New Mexico.

Heavens Cafe' - John Miner's artsy rock opera recently broke new ground in Las Vegas with critically acclaimed shows at the Flamingo and Charleston Art Performing Arts Theaters.

Big Mac Marries - Announcement of the marriage between Macaulay Culkin and Rachel Miner

Karsh, Yousuf - Photographs of miners by Karsh at "#2 Mine Tour", a biography and other portrait work.

Buelens, Johan - Photographs of abstracts, architecture, minerals, industrial situations, and portraiture.

Ivory Rose - Selected works of Buster Rose - Mastodon ivory, wood, metals, leather, silver, gold, obsidian, mineral ores and gemstones.

Lapidary Journal - Features jewelry-making, gem-cutting, beading, gem carving, and mineral and fossil collecting. Subscriptions, show schedules, and classifieds.

William Holland Lapidary School - Classes include beading, cabochons, silver, glass fusing, casting, gem and mineral ID, wirewrapping, chain making, glass bead making, silver clay, faceting, stained glass, opals. Hobby oriented craft jewelry making school.

Mineral - Dedicated to the fine band that is Mineral. Includes links to lyrics and other sites.

McGill, Cameron - Official web site of Chicago musician fronting the band Morris Miners. Includes news, pictures, multimedia samples, and tour dates.

Minerals

Mineral on Wikipedia

Mineral definition and classification

External Resources

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