A mineral is a naturally occuring, homogeneous, solid with a crystalline atomic structure. Crystallinity implies that a mineral has a definite and limited range of composition, and that the composition is expressible as a chemical formula. Some definitions of minerals give them as inorganic materials, however both diamonds and graphite are considered minerals, and both are primarily comprised of carbon, which would make them organic. So this leads me, as an engineer, to believe that mineralogists do not have a good, precise definition of a mineral, but rather a loose definition. The definition above, is the most inclusive and would include all substances currently described as minerals. The key items that make something a mineral are occurring naturally, and the definite crystal structure, that is expressible as a chemical formula. Rocks that do not meet this criteria are referred to as amorphis - not having a definite structure or expressible as a chemical formula. Some elements that occur naturally and are minerals are arsenic, bismuth, platinum, gold, silver, copper, and sulphur.
THE DEFINITION OF ORGANIC: Organic chemistry is the study of those substances containing carbon in combination with hydrogen (H), and a few other non metals, namely oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S) and the halogens (F2, Cl2, Br2, and I2).
 
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Niccolite is a nickel arsenic ore, is a mineral, classified by Dana's Manual of Mineralogy, and is a minor source
of nickel (Ni). Niccolite is an arsenide of nickel mineral. Niccolite's color ranges from a gray to a copper color.
Arsenic can be replaced by antimony. The specific gravity of this mineral ranges from 7.3 to 7.7, and it may contain
small quantities of iron, cobalt or sulphur. Due to its color, it was referred to as "Copper Nickel", at one time. Nickel is ferro-magnetic, which, when used with iron and cobalt, manufactures a good strength magnet. Celestial visitors to the planet have a 5 to 20% mixture of Nickel-Iron, which distinguish them from earth rocks. Nickel is primarily used as an alloy to metals, with stainless steel being the major use of nickel. Other nickel alloys include super alloys, which are stronger and more corrosion resistant metals that are used in high temperature applications, where a particular strength is required. |