Describe how minerals form.
Answer : Minerals can form on the surface through evaporation of solutions containing dissolved minerals. Minerals can form beneath the surface when dissolved elements and compounds leave a hot water solution or when materials melted in magma/ lava then cools & hardens.
How does the arrangement of the atoms in a mineral relate to its properties?
The atoms in a mineral are arranged in an organised 'atomic structure'. They connect together to form molecules, and the molecules stack together in a regular pattern to form a crystal. The shape of a crystal depends on the way the molecules are stacked up inside it.
