Question

Although computer chips are partly made of crystals manufactured in a factory by humans, why is it that these chips cannot be called minerals?​

Answer 1

The computer chips come from semi conductive minerals usually germanium, silicon, and finding those in nature is not always easy but, they are minerals they are properly manufactured, firstly they are melted down and then are pulled into a giant single crystal that is perfectly shaped to fit the needs of the computer chip manufacturer, then they are cleaned and cut within a few thousandths of a inch usually thinner than a piece of paper and smaller than a rice grain, then etched with UV resin, washes, and copper to make microscopic pathways for transistors and so forth, then after that they are put into they're cases and have the very small like thinner than a hair small gold electrical wires attached to each point of the chip.So from a outside perspective yes they are still minerals but refined and manufactured to fit a purpose entirely different than the material itself is.