Which of the following statements is true?

Minerals can be liquids.
Minerals can be elements or compounds.
Minerals must be organic.
Emeralds are more common than quartz.

1 answer

The true statement is:

Minerals can be elements or compounds.

To clarify the other statements:

  • Minerals can be liquids. This is false; minerals are typically defined as solid substances with a crystalline structure. While some minerals may exist in molten forms (like magma), the definition of a mineral pertains to a solid state.

  • Minerals must be organic. This is false; minerals are inorganic by definition. They do not originate from living organisms.

  • Emeralds are more common than quartz. This is false; quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust, while emeralds are much rarer.