What is a Mineral?
A mineral is a naturally occurring substance that is solid and stable at room
temperature, representable by a chemical formula, usually abiogenic, and has an
ordered atomic structure. It is different from a rock, which can be an aggregate
of minerals or non-minerals and does not have a specific chemical composition.
The exact definition of a mineral is under debate, especially with respect to
the requirement a valid species be abiogenic, and to a lesser extent with
regards to it having an ordered atomic structure. The study of minerals is
called mineralogy.
temperature, representable by a chemical formula, usually abiogenic, and has an
ordered atomic structure. It is different from a rock, which can be an aggregate
of minerals or non-minerals and does not have a specific chemical composition.
The exact definition of a mineral is under debate, especially with respect to
the requirement a valid species be abiogenic, and to a lesser extent with
regards to it having an ordered atomic structure. The study of minerals is
called mineralogy.
Top 5 Most Valuable Minerals
Painite -
Thought to be the rarest mineral on the planet, painite remains priceless. One of the hardest minerals to locate, it can only be harvested in Mogok and Kachin States in Myanmar. Only 25 small crystals and only two faceted crystals have been discovered in the world. Painite costs around 60,000
dollars per carat.
Coltan -
Coltan, a mineral that is refined through heat resistance into a metal powder, is often found in electronics. While this may not be the world's mosT expensive metal, it is weighted with blood. Coltan is mostly harvested in the Congo, Rwanda and Venezuela and is considered to be a leading conflict mineral. Violence, rape and monetary exploitation are often side effects of the mining practices. Rwandan rebel soldiers force prisoners, some children, to dig for the mineral. Coltan mining also impacts the endangered Mountain Gorilla as it is mined near the Kahuzi Biega National Park, depleting the gorilla habitat. Coltan harvest in the Democratic Republic of Congo reaps $8 million a year. Each pound of coltan sells for $100.
Ruby -
Rubies get their red color from the presence of chromium. Ninety percent of the world's ruby supply is harvested in Burma. As of 2007, ruby mining funded the country’s repressive military regime. Reports of worker abuse are abundant. In Burma, mining officials add amphetamines to the drinking water of workers, often children, to encourage productivity. Rubies are the most expensive gemstones in the world. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest ruby weighed 18 pounds.
Gold -
From the United States to Burkina Faso to the Philippines, gold is mined around the world. The world's gold supply is anticipated to begin to expire by 2055, forcing exponential markups until the precious resource becomes unobtainable. However, gold cannot be mined without great costs to the environment, such as Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and to human life. At a gold and copper mine in Chile, 33 miners have been trapped for 20 days in an emergency shelter. It is reported that it will take 120 days to rescue the miners. Rescuers will send the miners food through plastic tubes.
Diamond -
Diamonds are one of the chief minerals that cause environmental damage, human exploitation and forceful harvest. This past month, in Zimbabwe, the country earned $72 million at an inaugural diamond auction, selling diamonds from two corrupt mines where miners were murdered and children enslaved. 900,000 carats of the blood diamonds from the two mines were auctioned.
Thought to be the rarest mineral on the planet, painite remains priceless. One of the hardest minerals to locate, it can only be harvested in Mogok and Kachin States in Myanmar. Only 25 small crystals and only two faceted crystals have been discovered in the world. Painite costs around 60,000
dollars per carat.
Coltan -
Coltan, a mineral that is refined through heat resistance into a metal powder, is often found in electronics. While this may not be the world's mosT expensive metal, it is weighted with blood. Coltan is mostly harvested in the Congo, Rwanda and Venezuela and is considered to be a leading conflict mineral. Violence, rape and monetary exploitation are often side effects of the mining practices. Rwandan rebel soldiers force prisoners, some children, to dig for the mineral. Coltan mining also impacts the endangered Mountain Gorilla as it is mined near the Kahuzi Biega National Park, depleting the gorilla habitat. Coltan harvest in the Democratic Republic of Congo reaps $8 million a year. Each pound of coltan sells for $100.
Ruby -
Rubies get their red color from the presence of chromium. Ninety percent of the world's ruby supply is harvested in Burma. As of 2007, ruby mining funded the country’s repressive military regime. Reports of worker abuse are abundant. In Burma, mining officials add amphetamines to the drinking water of workers, often children, to encourage productivity. Rubies are the most expensive gemstones in the world. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest ruby weighed 18 pounds.
Gold -
From the United States to Burkina Faso to the Philippines, gold is mined around the world. The world's gold supply is anticipated to begin to expire by 2055, forcing exponential markups until the precious resource becomes unobtainable. However, gold cannot be mined without great costs to the environment, such as Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and to human life. At a gold and copper mine in Chile, 33 miners have been trapped for 20 days in an emergency shelter. It is reported that it will take 120 days to rescue the miners. Rescuers will send the miners food through plastic tubes.
Diamond -
Diamonds are one of the chief minerals that cause environmental damage, human exploitation and forceful harvest. This past month, in Zimbabwe, the country earned $72 million at an inaugural diamond auction, selling diamonds from two corrupt mines where miners were murdered and children enslaved. 900,000 carats of the blood diamonds from the two mines were auctioned.