Difference between rocks and minerals: Rocks are made of minerals, but not all minerals are rocks. Rocks can be made of one mineral or a combination of minerals. Igneous rocks are made from solidified lava or magma. Sedimentary rocks are made from compressed and cemented sediments. Metamorphic rocks are made from pre-existing rocks that have been changed by heat, pressure, and/or chemicals.

Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with specific chemical composition and crystal structure. There are over 4,000 known minerals, but only about 100 are common enough to be used in rock identification.

Basic 8 Difference between rocks and minerals

The most important difference between rocks and minerals is that rocks can be found in nature while minerals must be mined.

Rocks	Minerals
1. Rocks are a mixture of minerals.	1. Minerals are units of rocks.
2. They have no chemical formula.	2. Minerals have a definite chemical formula.
3. They have no physical or chemical properties.	3. They have physical and chemical properties.
4. It is studied in petrology.	4. It is studied in mineralogy.
5. It is formed both organically and inorganically.	5. It is formed mainly inorganically.
6. It doesn’t break easily.	6. It does break easily.
7. Rocks are divided into three main groups. These are (1) Igneous rocks, (2) Sedimentary or Aqueous Rocks, (3) Metamorphic Rocks.	7. Minerals are in two forms: (1) primary minerals and (2) Secondary minerals.
8. Example: Igneous rocks, Sedimentary or Aqueous Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks.	8. Example: Feldspar, mica, limonite, gibbsite, etc.