wat is the difrence between rocks and minerals?

Answer 1

1. The difference between rocks & minerals
http://www.rocks-and-minerals.com/ gives a simple but good explanation of the difference between rocks & minerals.

It is not easy to tell the difference between rocks & minerals because there are so many kinds of them. It takes years of study to be able to accurately identify a mystery rock and even then rockhounds want to know where the specimen came from.

Rocks
All rocks are made of 2 or more minerals, but minerals are not made of rocks. To see some pictures of different kinds of rocks, click here.

Rock Words: There are many common names for rocks and the usually give you an idea of how big the rock is. Here are a few:
boulder - large, taller than a person
rock - large, you could get your arms around it or a bit smaller but it is usually jagged, broken off a bigger piece of rock
river rock - round rocks that are along the edge & at the bottom of fast-flowing rivers
stone - medium, you could hold it in two hands
pebble - small, you can hold it with two fingers, could get stuck in your shoe, usually rounded
sand - made up of tiny pieces of rock, grains of sand
grain - tiny, like a grain of rice or smaller, often found on a beach
dust - really fine powder that is mixed in with sand or soil
mountain - huge, giant hunk of rock that is still attached to the earth's crust, doesn't move, tall


For an excellent Rock Identification test, click on http://www.bwctc.northants.sch.uk/html/projects/science/ks34/rocks/key.html



Minerals
A mineral is the same all the way through. That is one reason we speak of a sample or a specimen rather than a rock. There are about 3000 known minerals on earth. Al rocks are made up of 2 or more of these minerals. To find out more about different kinds of minerals, click here.

Answer 2

min·er·al (mnr-l) KEY

NOUN:

A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness.
Any of various natural substances, as:
An element, such as gold or silver.
An organic derivative, such as coal or petroleum.
A substance, such as stone, sand, salt, or coal, that is extracted or obtained from the ground or water and used in economic activities.
A substance that is neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic matter.
An inorganic element, such as calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, or zinc, that is essential to the nutrition of humans, animals, and plants.
An ore.
minerals Chiefly British Mineral water.
ADJECTIVE:

Of or relating to minerals: a mineral deposit.
Impregnated with minerals.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Medieval Latin minerle, from neuter of minerlis, pertaining to mines, from Old French miniere, mine, from mine ; see mine 1

rock 1 (rk) KEY

NOUN:

Relatively hard, naturally formed mineral or petrified matter; stone.

A relatively small piece or fragment of such material.
A relatively large body of such material, as a cliff or peak.
A naturally formed aggregate of mineral matter constituting a significant part of the earth's crust.
One that is similar to or suggestive of a mass of stone in stability, firmness, or dependability: The family has been his rock during this difficult time.
rocks Slang Money.
Slang A large gem, especially a diamond.
Slang Crack cocaine.

A varicolored stick candy.
Rock candy.

IDIOMS:
between a rock and a hard place
Confronted with equally unpleasant alternatives and few or no opportunities to evade or circumvent them.
on the rocks
In a state of difficulty, destruction, or ruin: Their marriage is on the rocks.
Without money; bankrupt: Our accountant says the business is on the rocks.
Served over ice cubes: Scotch on the rocks.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old North French roque, from Vulgar Latin *rocca

Answer 3

rocks are just one type of minerals.

Answer 4

minerals can not be seen