Happy 40th birthday to this lucky, lucky guy. The question on my husband's birthday is always: What do you get for the man who has nothing? My husband isn't a shopper; he buys food and, lately, diapers. He recently declared that he has enough pants to last the rest of his life.
What is Gold? Native gold is an element and a mineral. It is highly prized by people because of its attractive color, resistance to tarnish, and its many special properties - some of which are unique to gold. Its rarity, usefulness, and desirability make it command a high price.
A mineraloid is a substance that satisfies some, but not all of the parts of the definition. For example, opal, does not have a characteristic crystalline structure, so it is considered a mineraloid. Note also that the minerals as used in the nutritional sense are not minerals as defined geologically.