Minerals are solid substances that are present in nature and can be made of one element or more elements combined together (chemical compounds). Gold, Silver and carbon are elements that form minerals on their own. They are called native elements. Instead, ordinary kitchen salt is a chemical compound that is called rock salt, which is a mineral formed of sodium and chlorine ions. Atoms, ions and molecules that form a mineral are present in the space in a tidy way and according to well-defined geometrical shapes, which are called crystal lattices. The structure of the crystal lattice defines the shape of the crystal as we see it. For example, rock salt or kitchen salt is a mineral formed of cubic-shaped crystals. Its crystal lattice has the same shape and consists of sodium and chlorine ions that are present in the space in alternate order.
