What are the major methods of mineral formation?

The process of crystallization is the general mechanism by which minerals are formed. There are many examples of this process, such as the crystallization of lava or magma, which occurs when the liquid cools inside the crust and the crystallization of lava cools and then solidifies on the surface. Another variation of this process is the crystallization of materials dissolved in water.

Minerals can also be formed by the slow evaporation of a solution; table salt, for example, is formed over millions of years by the slow evaporation of ancient seas; this process occurs on a daily basis in regions such as the Midwest, Southwest, and Gulf coast.

Last but not least, pure metals can crystallize from hot water solutions to form minerals. These minerals can take the shape of veins, narrow channels, or slabs that differ from the surrounding rock.

The major methods of mineral formation are crystallization from magma, precipitation from solutions, and changes in pressure and temperature.