Which of these rock minerals are rare?

Question

aluminum beryllium chromium copper fluorite galena
gold gypsum halite hematite kaolinite magnetite mica molybdenum nickel phosphate
potassium silica silver sulfur talc tungsten zinc zircronium

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Answer 1

joltean poker s,

I may need some clarification to answer your question accurately. First, you don't have any of these words separated, for instance, in the second line do you mean "nickel" and then "phosphate", or "nickel phosphate"? Also, are you asking how common aluminum is as a consituent in minerals, or as a pure element? Because those answers are VASTLY different. I will assume for now that each word is a stand-alone mineral, and that you are referring to the native elements in cases where it is not a compound:

Aluminum: Not found in nature in its pure form.

Beryllium: Not found in nature in its pure form.

Chromium: Can be found in pure form, but is quite rare.

Gold: Usually in its pure form where it occurs, but is uncommon

Molybdenum: Can be found in its pure form, but is super rare in that form. More often found as the sulfide.

Nickel: Again, can be found in nature as the native metal but is rare.

Potassium: Is unheard of in nature in its pure form... far too reactive.

Silver: Normally found as native metal, but is uncommon.

Tungsten: Noramally found as tungstate minerals, but can be found as the native metal if you know exactly where to look.

Zinc: Not found in nature in its pure form.

Zirconium: Not found in nature in its pure form.


The rest of them are very common. If I misunderstood your question, or you need clarification on any of these, let me know.

PS. I'm not sure why the answerer above listed fluorite and magnetite... these are not even close to being rare.

Answer 2

Let me see, where do I start? Aluminum, beryllium, chromium, copper, gold, nickle, potassium, silver, sulfur, tungsten, zinc and zirconium (not zircronium) are elements and not minerals at all.
Of the remaining choices; fluorite, galena, gypsum, halite, hematite, kaolinite, magnetite, mica (really, this is a family of minerals) and talc; none are rare, although most are not just hanging around your local stream bed.