Metal vs. Mineral — What's the Difference?

A metal (from Greek μέταλλον métallon, "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typically malleable (they can be hammered into thin sheets) or ductile (can be drawn into wires).

In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.The geological definition of mineral normally excludes compounds that occur only in living beings. However some minerals are often biogenic (such as calcite) or are organic compounds in the sense of chemistry (such as mellite).

A solid material which is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity (e.g. iron, gold, silver, and aluminium, and alloys such as steel)

A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness.

Broken stone for use in making roads

An element, such as gold or silver.

Molten glass before it is blown or cast.

An organic derivative, such as coal or petroleum.

Heavy metal or similar rock music

A substance, such as stone, sand, salt, or coal, that is extracted or obtained from the ground or water and used in economic activities.

Made from or coated with metal

A substance that is neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic matter.

Make or mend (a road) with road metal

An inorganic element, such as calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, or zinc, that is essential to the nutrition of humans, animals, and plants.

Any of a category of electropositive elements that usually have a shiny surface, are generally good conductors of heat and electricity, and can be melted or fused, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn into wires. Typical metals form salts with nonmetals, basic oxides with oxygen, and alloys with one another.

An ore.

An alloy of two or more metallic elements.

Minerals Mineral water.

An object made of metal.

A soft drink.

Basic character; mettle.

Of or relating to minerals

Broken stones used for road surfaces or railroad beds.

Impregnated with minerals.

Molten glass, especially when used in glassmaking.

(geology) Any naturally occurring inorganic material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties.

Molten cast iron.

Any inorganic material (as distinguished from animal or vegetable).

(Printing) Type made of metal.

(nutrition) Any inorganic element that is essential to nutrition; a dietary mineral.

(Music) Heavy metal.

(British) Mineral water.

To cover or surface (a roadbed, for example) with broken stones.

A soft drink, particularly a single serve bottle or can.

(heading) Chemical elements or alloys, and the mines where their ores come from.

(obsolete) A mine or mineral deposit.

Any of a number of chemical elements in the periodic table that form a metallic bond with other metal atoms; generally shiny, somewhat malleable and hard, often a conductor of heat and electricity.

(obsolete) A poisonous or dangerous substance.

Any material with similar physical properties, such as an alloy.

Of, related to, or containing minerals

(astronomy) An element which was not directly created after the Big Bang but instead formed through nuclear reactions; any element other than hydrogen and helium.

An inorganic species or substance occurring in nature, having a definite chemical composition and usually a distinct crystalline form. Rocks, except certain glassy igneous forms, are either simple minerals or aggregates of minerals.

Crushed rock, stones etc. used to make a road.

A mine.

(mining) The ore from which a metal is derived.

Anything which is neither animal nor vegetable, as in the most general classification of things into three kingdoms (animal, vegetable, and mineral).

(obsolete) A mine from which ores are taken.

Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or of minerals; as, a mineral substance.

(tincture) A light tincture used in a coat of arms, specifically argent (white or silver) and or (gold).

Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters.

Molten glass that is to be blown or moulded to form objects.

Solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition

(music) A category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, heavy metal, etc.) characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.

Relating to minerals;

The substance that constitutes something or someone; matter; hence, character or temper.

Of or containing or derived from minerals;

The effective power or calibre of guns carried by a vessel of war.

Composed of matter other than plant or animal;

The rails of a railway.

The actual airline operating a flight, rather than any of the codeshare operators.

(music) Characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.

Having the emotional or social characteristics associated with metal music; brash, bold, frank, unyielding, etc.

To make a road using crushed rock, stones etc.

An elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather than acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid and basic qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.

Ore from which a metal is derived; - so called by miners.

A mine from which ores are taken.

The substance of which anything is made; material; hence, constitutional disposition; character; temper.

Courage; spirit; mettle. See Mettle.

The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting railroads.

The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel of war.

Glass in a state of fusion.

The rails of a railroad.

To cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's bottom; to metal a road.

Any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

A mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten;

Cover with metal

Containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal;