Here's why:

* Minerals are inorganic: They are naturally occurring solids with a defined chemical composition and crystal structure. They are not formed by the linking of smaller repeating units like polymers.

* Minerals are formed by geological processes: They are formed through various geological processes like cooling magma, precipitation from water, or changes in pressure and temperature.

Instead of monomers, minerals are composed of ions bonded together in a repeating, three-dimensional crystal lattice. These ions can be:

* Cations: Positively charged ions (e.g., sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+))

* Anions: Negatively charged ions (e.g., chloride (Cl-), oxygen (O2-), carbonate (CO32-))

The specific arrangement of these ions defines the mineral's structure and properties. For example, the mineral halite (NaCl) is composed of sodium cations (Na+) and chloride anions (Cl-) arranged in a cubic lattice.

Example:

* Quartz (SiO2): Composed of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) ions in a specific crystal lattice.

Therefore, while monomers are the building blocks of polymers, minerals are formed by the arrangement of ions in a crystal lattice.