The Earth is made up of a foundation of rock, and rocks are various combinations of minerals. So minerals can be considered the simple building blocks of the Earth.  In order to be considered a mineral, it must adhere to a fairly well-defined set of standards:  A mineral must be inorganic (not alive) and naturally formed, it must be a solid (neither liquid nor gas), it must have a definite chemical composition (expressed in a specific chemical formula) as well as a characteristic crystalline structure (atoms arranged within the mineral in a specific ordered manner).  A substance that only satisfies some (but not all) of the qualifications is often called a mineraloid.  The word ‘mineral’ originates in the Latin minerale as something that is pulled from the earth.  While minerals are not considered ‘alive’, they have been revered throughout history.  Ancient Egypt, Ancient Africa (especially around the Congo), India, Indigenous Americans, Asia, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome all have references to the practical and medicinal uses of crystals and sacred stones.  This kingdom brings us reflection, refraction, and resonance.  It is the framework and structure that keys us to our Mother Earth.  This is the Kingdom of harmony and balance.  Here is a look at some of the personalities of our brothers and sisters in the Mineral Kingdom.