Minerals are formed by crystallization of magma or lava. Crystallization involves a process by which atoms are laid out to form a material with a crystal structure.
Explanation:
Minerals get created by crystallization of magma which involves cooling of magma inside the crust or crystallization of lava which involves cooling and hardening of lava on the surface. When magma or lava cools down and comes to a solid state, they create crystals. The size of these crystals depend on three factors. They are:
The amount of gas magma holds.
The chemical composition of magma.
The rate at which magma cools down: Slow cooling causes formation of large crystals. While cooling down, if they remain undisturbed, then they grow in a regular pattern. Magma or lava that is closer to the surface cools down at a faster rate than magma that hardens deep below the ground. Rapid cooling leaves no time for magma to form large crystals. If magma erupts and spreads on the surface, it becomes lava which cools down quickly and forms minerals with small crystals.
A spring forms where the water table intersects the ground surface. Sometimes, the ground surface is lower than the water table. This forms a natural water flow as a spring.
An artesian well occurs where pressurized formations containing ground water is found.
Unsaturated zone is not filled with ground water.
An aquifer is a porous and permeable formation that can store ground water
