FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[kokoqn4o]

I'm sorry friends. You are right. Thank you for your expert opinion.

[kokoqn4o]

I read the definition of the term mineral in Wikipedia. One of the definitions of the term mineral is:
"A mineral is an element or chemical compound that is normally crystalline and that has been formed as a result of geological processes. However, if geological processes were involved in the genesis of the compound, then the product can be accepted as a mineral." So salt crystal is a mineral. You were right friends.

[crothera]

Synthesis, as with many terms, has subject related descriptions. Notice I used "description" rather than definition, which I always told my students was a term the leads one to believe the term in question has only one "true" meaning.
If chemistry is the topic, then synthesis has nothing to do with labs or humans but describes one of the basic types of chemical reactions, as determined by what actually happens to allow the reaction to occur. In this case simpler compounds (or elements) combine to form (synthesize) a more complex product. In chemistry it referred to as a "Synthesis reaction".

[NellsRocks]

Getting back to the original question, are there really ANY instances where a crystal, once removed from it's place of growth by a person, can revert back to that "perfect environment" and begin to grow again? What about places like very old mine dumps?