mineral

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A natural solid material found in rocks and soil with a fairly fixed chemical makeup and crystal structure.

   Grammar: Countable in geology; plural minerals names kinds or samples.

   Patterns

   • a mineral deposit
   • rich in minerals
   • identify a mineral

   Quartz is a common mineral found in many rocks.

   The region has valuable mineral deposits of copper and zinc.

   Students tested the mineral with a streak plate.

2. 2nouncountable or uncountablemedical

   A natural chemical element or compound that the body needs in small amounts for health.

   Grammar: Use minerals for kinds such as iron and calcium; use the mineral for one element, not food generally.

   Patterns

   • essential minerals
   • lack minerals
   • vitamins and minerals

   Growing children need minerals such as calcium and iron.

   A varied diet usually provides enough minerals without supplements.

   The doctor checked whether fatigue came from low mineral levels.

Word forms

Common combinations

essential mineral

Iron is an essential mineral for carrying oxygen in blood.

mineral deposit

The mountain range contains a large mineral deposit.

vitamins and minerals

The label lists vitamins and minerals added to the cereal.

mineral water

She ordered mineral water with dinner.

Synonyms and how they differ

ore

An ore is rock from which metal can be extracted profitably; not every mineral is ore.

nutrient

A broad food-health word; minerals are one kind of nutrient.

crystal

Refers to shape or solid form; a mineral usually has an ordered crystal structure.

Word family

mineralogy noun

The scientific study of minerals.

mineralogist noun

A scientist who studies minerals.

mineralize verb

To turn matter into minerals or deposit minerals in it.

Commonly confused: mineral or vitamin? mineral or mine?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “mineral”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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