mineral /min″ərəl/ [L, minera, mine] , 1. an inorganic substance occurring naturally in the earth’s crust, having a characteristic chemical composition and (usually) crystalline structure. 2. (in nutrition) a compound containing a metal, nonmetal, radical, or phosphate that is needed for proper body function and maintenance of health. The needed substance is usually ingested as a part of such a compound, such as table salt (sodium chloride), instead of as a free element, and the compound is usually referred to by the name of the needed substance.
