Asked by Ke'Andre Dixon
is coal a mineral
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No — coal is not a mineral.
Why:
- Minerals are defined as naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solids with a definite (or narrowly variable) chemical composition.
- Coal is organic (made from decomposed plant material), amorphous/heterogeneous rather than crystalline, and its composition varies widely.
- Geologically, coal is classified as an organic sedimentary rock (with ranks such as lignite, bituminous, anthracite).
Note: pure carbon forms that are crystalline (diamond, graphite) are minerals, and coal often contains mineral impurities (pyrite, quartz, calcite) — but coal itself is not a mineral.
Why:
- Minerals are defined as naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solids with a definite (or narrowly variable) chemical composition.
- Coal is organic (made from decomposed plant material), amorphous/heterogeneous rather than crystalline, and its composition varies widely.
- Geologically, coal is classified as an organic sedimentary rock (with ranks such as lignite, bituminous, anthracite).
Note: pure carbon forms that are crystalline (diamond, graphite) are minerals, and coal often contains mineral impurities (pyrite, quartz, calcite) — but coal itself is not a mineral.
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