Minerals are made of elements, which are the simplest pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Here's a breakdown:

* Elements: Think of these as the building blocks of everything, including minerals. Some common elements found in minerals include:

* Oxygen (O)

* Silicon (Si)

* Aluminum (Al)

* Iron (Fe)

* Calcium (Ca)

* Sodium (Na)

* Potassium (K)

* Magnesium (Mg)

* Compounds: Minerals are often formed by combining two or more elements together in a fixed ratio. For example, quartz is made of silicon and oxygen (SiO2).

* Crystalline Structure: Minerals have a specific, repeating arrangement of atoms called a crystalline structure. This structure gives them their characteristic shape, hardness, and other properties.

So, in summary, minerals are made of elements, often combined into compounds, arranged in a specific crystalline structure.