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Minerals are elements that originate in the Earth and cannot be made by living organisms. They are natural compounds formed through geological processes and are what remains as ash when plant or animal tissue is burned or decompose completely after death. Minerals are inorganic substances which means they are not formed by living matter and contain no carbon, and can be simply defined as chemical molecules which cannot be reduced to simpler substances. To be classified as a "true" mineral, a substance must be a solid and have a crystal structure. It must also be a naturally-occurring, homogeneous substance with a defined chemical composition.

As well as existing in their inorganic form in the Earth, minerals are the basic constituents of all matter, are part of living tissue, and constitute most of what we call elements, the basic building blocks of matter. Approximately 4% to 5% of the body's weight is mineral matter, and most of this is in the skeleton. Minerals are also......

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