Hi, I have little doubt that I hope you can answer: What is the difference between a crystal and a mineral?

arabinogalactano asked: Hi, I have little doubt that I hope you can answer: What is the difference between a crystal and a mineral?

I have asked myself the same question in the past. Here is an article specific on your question.

The most helpful paragraph I found in the article was:

Crystals and minerals differ, not only through the ways in which they are used but they also differ in terms of structure. To put it simply, a crystal is a structure made up of various natural materials whereas a mineral is a material in itself. Two or more minerals can actually have the same chemical composition and yet completely differ when it comes to crystal structure. These are known as polymorphs. Crystal structure can greatly influence the physical properties of a mineral. A good example of this would be diamonds and graphite. As you already know, diamonds are known to be the hardest of all minerals and yet, whilst it has the same composition as the graphite, the latter is very malleable in nature.