There are six characteristics a substance must display in order to be classified as a mineral. explain those six characteristics.

There are five characteristics a substance must display in order to be classified as a mineral. These are solid, inorganic, naturally occurring, definite chemical composition and definite crystalline structure.

Solid. A mineral cannot be a mineral if it is not solid. This is a state in the highest order and gives them a specific structure of the kind of mineral it is. They are divided into two structures, crystalline and amorphous.

Inorganic. They are mostly composed of inorganic elements such as iron, zinc and so on. They are not a component to form a living organisms such as proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Naturally occurring. They can be found naturally on earth. Examples of these are pyrite (an ore used for the production of sulfuric acid) and others.

Definite chemical composition. As stated that it is a solid with a specific structure, each structure has a specific composition to greatly define that mineral. They can be a mineral with an atom only or a combination of many.

Crystalline structure. Minerals have crystals that have repeated patterns of atoms and these are called a unit cell.

In order to be classified as a mineral, it needs;

to be inorganic

to be natural, not man-made

be a crystalized solid

must have a consistant chemical composition.

be a solid

repeated patterns of solids