Question

How does the composition of most minerals differ from a pure element?

Answer 1

Well, usually most minerals of oxides, and sulfides, and carbonates.......

Explanation:

These salts tend to be highly insoluble in water, and thus they tend to aggregagte in pockets of the earth's crust. Rarely, an element can occur as the pure material: i.e. think of the historical gold-rushes.