Minerals can generally be described as compounds that occur naturally on the earth's surface. They have a wide range of uses, from industrial to personal care. There are several synonyms for the word mineral, including gemstone, rock, crystal, ore, and stone. Gemstones are precious minerals that are typically used in jewelry and other decorative objects. Rocks, on the other hand, refer to larger formations of minerals and can be used in construction. Crystals are minerals that have a specific geometric shape and are commonly used in metaphysical practices. Ores are minerals that contain valuable elements that can be extracted through mining. Lastly, stones refer to the smaller pieces of minerals that can be used for various purposes, such as landscaping and asphalt.