Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
The term "mineral" is archaic, since the intent is to describe simply the less common elements in the diet. Some are heavier than the four just mentioned – including several metals , which often occur as ions in the body.
In the context of nutrition, a mineral is a chemical element. Some "minerals" are essential for life, but most are not. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Minerals are one of the four groups of essential nutrients; the others are vitamins , essential fatty acids , and essential amino acids . [ 4 ]
A mineral lick (also known as a salt lick) is a place where animals can go to lick essential mineral nutrients from a deposit of salts and other minerals. Mineral licks can be naturally occurring or artificial (such as blocks of salt that farmers place in pastures for livestock to lick).
Mineral evolution is a recent hypothesis that provides historical context to mineralogy. It postulates that mineralogy on planets and moons becomes increasingly complex as a result of changes in the physical, chemical and biological environment.
This is a list of minerals which have Wikipedia articles.. Minerals are distinguished by various chemical and physical properties. Differences in chemical composition and crystal structure distinguish the various species.
Mineral classification schemes and their definitions are evolving to match recent advances in mineral science. Recent changes have included the addition of an organic class, in both the new Dana and the Strunz classification schemes. [152] [153] The organic class includes a very rare group of minerals with hydrocarbons. The IMA Commission on ...
The high mineral content of enamel, which makes this tissue the hardest in the human body, also makes it demineralize in a process that often occurs as dental caries, otherwise known as cavities. [13] Demineralization occurs for several reasons, but the most important cause of tooth decay is the ingestion of fermentable carbohydrates.
Muscovite (also known as common mica, isinglass, or potash mica [6]) is a hydrated phyllosilicate mineral of aluminium and potassium with formula KAl 2 (AlSi 3 O 10)(F,OH) 2, or 2 (Al 2 O 3) 3 (SiO 2) 6 (H 2 O). It has a highly perfect basal cleavage yielding remarkably thin laminae (sheets) which are often highly elastic.