What does mineralogy primarily study?

Mineralogy is the branch of geology that focuses specifically on the study of minerals, their composition, structure, properties, and the processes that form them. This field examines both the physical and chemical characteristics of minerals, which are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a definite chemical formula and structure. Mineralogy plays a crucial role in understanding the earth’s composition and the processes that shape its geology, as minerals are the building blocks of rocks and are integral to various geological processes.

While fossils pertain to the study of ancient life and are related to paleontology, and rocks are aggregates of one or more minerals and the study of them falls under petrology, the primary focus of mineralogy is distinctly on the individual minerals themselves. Soils, being a mixture of minerals, organic matter, air, and water, are studied in soil science rather than mineralogy. Thus, the nature of mineralogy as a discipline is centered on minerals, which makes this answer the most appropriate choice.