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CaitlinN22 OP t1_j9kn6f4 wrote

Reply to comment by tmahfan117 in ELI5: Are all solids minerals? If not, why? by CaitlinN22

Can a mineral have different sets of chemical elements in each sample of the same material?

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breckenridgeback t1_j9kovqp wrote

To a point. Some minerals form a series where, for example, you might replace aluminum with magnesium or whatever. But a mineral by definition has to have a specific composition or range of compositions. That's what distinguishes it from a rock (which is a collection of [possibly many different] minerals).

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ScienceIsSexy420 t1_j9ko2x7 wrote

There can be different contaminats in the same mineral, but generally the chemical composition of a mineral is going to be the same in every version of that mineral. If it differs, it's a different mineral.

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Emyrssentry t1_j9koipa wrote

As an example, both sapphires and rubies are the same mineral (corundum) with different impurities that change the color.

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