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ScienceIsSexy420 t1_j9ko2x7 wrote

Reply to comment by CaitlinN22 in ELI5: Are all solids minerals? If not, why? by CaitlinN22

There can be different contaminats in the same mineral, but generally the chemical composition of a mineral is going to be the same in every version of that mineral. If it differs, it's a different mineral.

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Emyrssentry t1_j9koipa wrote

As an example, both sapphires and rubies are the same mineral (corundum) with different impurities that change the color.

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