Mineralogy of "Mineraloids" (Mineraloids): Gems and Natural Substances Outside the Crystalline Statutes
In mineralogy, the standard of classifying a substance as a mineral is very strict. It must be a natural solid with a crystalline structure, but in nature there is another group of substances that are very mineral-like, but lack molecular order.
Mineralloids are geological compounds that do not complete the composition of ore by standard (IMA). The distinguishing characteristics are:
- Amorphous: The atoms are arranged scattered, disorganized, like a solidified liquid.
- Conchoidal Fracture: broken into a shell-like curved skin, found in glass and amorphous substances.
- Chemical components are changeable (Variable chemical composition)
For example, Obsidian, a volcanic glass formed by rapidly cooling lava, Opal with beautiful light play, Limonite from iron mixing other substances.
Another group is the huge impact substances such as Tektite, Libyan Desert Glass, which are caused by meteors or comets hitting the earth, including organic substances such as Amber, Jet, Pearl, which, although organic, are classified as gemological mineralloids.
These things, although not mineral in the full academic sense, have a lot of importance and beauty, and they are really interesting and appreciate the diversity of nature.
