Distinguishing Rocks from Minerals
in Tennessee Natural Resources

A mineral:
  • Is naturally occurring
  • Is an inorganic compound composed of one or more elements
  • Has an orderly internal arrangement of atoms (crystalline)
A rock:
  • Is a naturally formed aggregate of one or more minerals or
  • Is a partially or wholly glassy substance that, had it formed under proper conditions would have formed an aggregate (e.g. obsidian)

Resource Rock or Mineral
Barite Mineral
Chert Cryptocrystalline, marginally considered a mineral
Clay Clay is not considered a mineral. Although individual particles of clay may have a crystalline structure, the clay itself is a mixture.
Chalcopyrite (copper) Chalcopyrite is a mineral
Coal Rock
Fluorite Mineral - often found in veins in limestone
Galena (lead) Mineral, Galena veins are often found in limestone in deposits where sphalerite is also found
Gypsum Mineral, often found as nodules in limestone
Ilmenite (titanium) Mineral

Iron
Magnetite
Hematite
Limonite
Pyrite

 Four ores of iron are found in Tennessee, all of them minerals
Limestone Rock- Limestone does not have an overall crystalline structure. It is formed by the accumulation of mostly microscopic
Mussel Shells These are organic and are neither rocks or minerals
Oil/Natural Gas Not truly minerals, but their maturation from organic material to the resource involves earth processes.
Phosphate Rock - the basic phosphate mineral is apatite.
Saltpeter Mineral - also called niter
Sand & Gravel Rock - Although individual particles may have crystalline structures, sand and gravel are no considered minerals because they contain a mixture of different materials
Sandstone Rock
Sphalerite (zinc) Mineral

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