• Question: What type of atoms are rocks made out of or do they have 2 different atoms?

    Asked by Super Scientist M.A to Tom on 10 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Thomas Barrett

      Thomas Barrett answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Rocks are made of elements just like you, me and my cup of tea.

      The most simple rocks are just bits of sand which is mainly Silicon and Oxygen (SiO2). These are sandstones. But each mineral has different amount of elements and different structures so more complex rocks have more elements.

      The mineral i look at in rocks is called apatite and is the stuff that makes up your teeth and bones. It has a chemical formula of Ca5(PO4)3(OH,Cl,F) much more complex than SiO2!

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