Which of the following is NOT a criterion to be a mineral?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a criterion to be a mineral?

Explanation:
Minerals are defined by being solid, naturally occurring, inorganic substances with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline internal structure. The option that does not fit is the liquid state, because a mineral must be solid. Liquids lack a fixed, repeating atomic arrangement, so they do not have the long-range order that minerals require. Ice is an example of a mineral because it is solid water with a crystalline lattice, whereas liquid water is not.

Minerals are defined by being solid, naturally occurring, inorganic substances with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline internal structure. The option that does not fit is the liquid state, because a mineral must be solid. Liquids lack a fixed, repeating atomic arrangement, so they do not have the long-range order that minerals require. Ice is an example of a mineral because it is solid water with a crystalline lattice, whereas liquid water is not.

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