Rocks and minerals are closely related, but there are fundamental differences between the two. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Bluish-gray molybdenite, a molybdenium-sulfur mineral, in quartz from Wisconsin. More than 5,000 minerals have been identified on Earth, more than half of which are classified as rare, meaning they’ve ...

The United States is rich in many different types of minerals, some of which have been selected as state minerals to represent the state's geology, history, economy, and culture. Each state’s ...