mineral
n. countablen. a natural substance found in the ground, like salt, gold, or iron. Your body also needs some of these to stay healthy.
n. a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and an ordered internal structure. In a nutritional context, it refers to inorganic elements essential for physiological functions.
Calcium is an important mineral for strong bones.
The region is famous for its rich mineral deposits, which include copper and silver.
Geologists identify each mineral by examining its crystal structure, hardness, and the way it reflects light under a microscope.
From Middle English mineral, borrowed from Old French mineral, (French minéral), from Medieval Latin minerale, from minera (“ore”), probably ultimately derived from Latin mina (“ore, mine”).
Often used in the plural when referring to dietary requirements or natural resources.