Are They Rocks Or Minerals?

[2screwed]

Hi guys I don't post much on TNET but I was asked a question by a friend that I couldn't answer and I figured you good folks could.
She got in a discussion with someone on Facebook who claimed to be a mining engineer about whether diamonds and gold nuggets are rocks or minerals. He asserts that they are rocks, she thinks that they are minerals not rocks. I am leaning toward her side of the argument but have to admit that I don't know for sure.
Here are a couple of links she used for her side of the argument:

https://www.quora.com/Why-are-diamonds-rocks

He also suggested that she google the definition of a mineral and the results of that suggest that she is right.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mineral&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

So what are they, rocks or minerals or both?

 

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[Mgumby16]

Both gold and diamonds are minerals. Gold is also an element and diamond is a polymorph of the element carbon. They are not rocks.

Minerals have a definite chemical composition. Rocks are made of minerals and do not have a definitive chemical composition.

Also a little back ground on me to vet the answer I work as a geologist and am in the processes of becoming a licensed professional geologist.

Hope this helps!

 

[smokeythecat]

Agree with minerals. Gold is atomic symbol AU. Diamond I atomic symbol C (for carbon). As such they are native elements, minerals. Gold can have impurities, diamonds generally do not if I remember correctly.

 

[winners58]

40 Common Minerals and Their Uses

what about "Ore" you could add that to your discussion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore

Rocks have minerals, which in large concentration are called ores and these are mined for metals.

A mineral is an inorganic, naturally occurring substance with distinct chemistry and crystalline structure.

Gemstones can be classified as either amorphous or crystalline. Amorphous gemstones have no orderly internal atomic structure and no naturally occurring shape. Glass, amber, and opal are examples. Crystalline gemstones are minerals; they have a definite and regular internal atomic structure. Examples include garnet, emerald, and ruby.

Diamonds are mineral.
.

 

[2screwed]

Thanks guys, I knew that gold was an element and that both gold and diamonds were minerals. I was always taught that rocks and minerals were two different critters but but in reading over their posts the guy made some good arguments to the contrary. Enough so to make me question what i was taught. So i came here to ask the people who would know. I'll make sure to send her a link to this thread, she will be happy to know that she was indeed right.

 

[2screwed]

Also a little back ground on me to vet the answer I work as a geologist and am in the processes of becoming a licensed professional geologist.

Hope this helps!

I was hoping a geologist would weigh in, TY. Here was her reply when the guy thought that saying he was a mining engineer would impress her enough to change her position.:

"BTW, when i want to know how to develop a mining claim I have filed I'll ask a mining engineer. When I want to know what the rocks and minerals are that I have found on that claim I will ask a geologist."

 

[russau]

40 Common Minerals and Their Uses

what about "Ore" you could add that to your discussion

Thanks for the link you posted winners58 ! that is a interesting link and read!!

 

[nh.nugget]

Definitely a mineral but I can see how an internet troll could make the argument that gold is a rock. The few papers I've read typically had >80% gold content in the placer they were finding. The highest I've seen was >90% out of Georgia. You could argue that the lower content gold is a rock because it has so many other minerals in it like copper or silver. But I hate trolls it's a mineral

OK, kindly be respectfull All they did was ask a question. We don't need name calling when we don't know who the person was. It can be argued on Diamonds rock or mineral, I know mineral, then why do they call them rocks or stones when they are on a woman's finger or un--mounted? And even though gold is a mineral why don't they call it a metal instead?

 

[winners58]

its all based on usage, its the difference between a "meaning" and a "definition"
how you use a word could mean different things. For example, 'the world' can mean variously:
'all the people on this planet', 'this planet', and even 'the entire universe'.

we all live on the third rock from the sun

Idiom of the day;
“I'm allergic to rocks hitting me in the face.”
― Mike Rowe

 

[2screwed]

nh.nugget and Treasure_Hunter, unless you cut something out of the post you quoted i don't see how that could be an attack or insult directed towards me. If it was ... water off a ducks back. I'm pretty sure the person my friend was in a discussion with on facebook wasn't a member here. I don't know if he was a troll or not but he was on the opposite side of a discussion with our friend who has never backed away from a good debate. I explained the reasons above for asking the question here.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Depends on who the "Internet Troll" was he was referring to...... I will remove my comment..

 

[2screwed]

Here is a pm from my friend:

"Please extend my thanks everyone on the site you linked me to for their replies. I knew I was right. It's 6th grade science for gods sake."

I'd like to say thanks again as well, as usual the members here have been helpful and knowledgeable.

 

[2screwed]

Depends on who the "Internet Troll" was he was referring to...... I will remove my comment..

Thanks Treasure_Hunter. I don't think it was directed towards me but I have been known to throw a little gas on the fire once in a while.

 

[nh.nugget]

Wasn't an insult towards you. we're all family here internet troll was uncalled for no matter who it was. we don't in my opinion call each other or any one names not knowing. all it was is question asked. Sorry I treat people with the same respect given.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

After rereading post I believe it was directed at Facebook poster so rules would not apply...

 

[2cmorau]

gold and diamonds will get ya wedding bells and grandkids, Rocks will get you laughed out of the room