mineral

Everyday

1. A natural, non-living solid substance found in rocks and the ground, like quartz, salt, gold or iron ore. tree →
2. A substance that our bodies need in small amounts to stay healthy, like calcium for bones and iron for blood. tree →
3. Mineral water is water from a natural spring that has minerals dissolved in it. tree →
4. In British and Irish English, "minerals" can mean fizzy soft drinks. tree →

In the lessons

In science, rocks are made of minerals; minerals have their own crystals, colours and hardness (diamond is the hardest, talc the softest on the Mohs scale). Plants take minerals from the soil through their roots. In food lessons, minerals like calcium (milk, cheese), iron (red meat, beans, spinach) and potassium (bananas) keep us healthy, along with vitamins. In geography, valuable minerals are mined. Phrases: "vitamins and minerals", "mineral water", "rocks and minerals", "mineral resources".

Examples

• Quartz is a common mineral. tree →
• Milk contains the mineral calcium, which helps build strong bones. tree →
• Plants take water and minerals from the soil. tree →
• Granite is a rock made of several minerals. tree →
• Would you like still or sparkling mineral water? tree →
• Diamond is the hardest mineral. tree →
• Our class made a rock and mineral collection. tree →
• Iron is a mineral that helps your blood carry oxygen. tree →

Note

Countable: a mineral, minerals. Spelling: m-i-n-e-r-a-l (stress on MIN). Rocks and minerals are not the same: a mineral is one substance; a rock is usually a mix of minerals. Minerals are different from vitamins, although both are needed for health.