Minerals, the building blocks of planets: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher

Wulfenite forms in hydrothermal lead deposits and is the official state mineral of Arizona. Credit: Dave Eicher

Key Takeaways:

Minerals are defined as compounds with ordered crystalline structures.
Mineral specimens are valued for both aesthetic and scientific reasons.
The consistent chemical laws of the universe suggest that Earth minerals are likely present on extra-terrestrial bodies.
Holding a terrestrial mineral is analogous to possessing a sample from another planet.

Minerals are no ordinary rocks: They are compounds that have an orderly, crystal structure. Collectors of minerals and gems prize them not only for their aesthetic beauty and value, but also for their scientific beauty. And, as Dave explains, because chemistry is uniform throughout the universe, the same minerals we find on Earth may also exist on countless other planets throughout the universe. So the next time you hold a striking mineral, just think: You’re holding something that’s identical to a piece of another world.