MCQ Detailed View

Minerals are naturally occurring substances formed in the Earth’s crust, and they are classified into groups based on their chemical composition. The majority of minerals are inorganic in nature, such as silicates, oxides, carbonates, and sulfides. However, a small but important group of minerals is classified as organic minerals, which are unique because they contain hydrocarbons or other organic compounds.

The organic group of minerals includes substances that are derived from or chemically related to living matter. These minerals contain carbon bonded with hydrogen, forming hydrocarbons, which are the building blocks of organic chemistry. Examples include coal, petroleum, oil shale, and asphaltite. These minerals are not silicates, oxides, or sulfides but are classified separately because of their organic molecular structure.

Hydrocarbons are compounds composed primarily of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). They may occur in gaseous, liquid, or solid form within the Earth. Organic minerals are particularly significant because they serve as the primary source of fossil fuels, which are used for energy production worldwide. For instance, petroleum and natural gas are mixtures of hydrocarbons that originated from the decomposition of ancient biological material under heat and pressure over millions of years.

Other mineral groups do not contain hydrocarbons. Silicates form the largest group of minerals, built on the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron. Oxides include minerals where oxygen is bonded to metals, such as hematite (Fe₂O₃). Hydrides are compounds containing hydrogen combined with metals, but they are rare in nature. None of these groups feature hydrocarbon structures, which is why organic minerals are classified separately.

Therefore, the correct answer is the Organic group, as it specifically refers to minerals containing hydrocarbons, linking geology with organic chemistry and energy resources.