Question

what minerals are catalysts? is it safe to say that any that activate or speed up certain processes and do not become part of the product are catalysts?

Answer 1

Indeed it is a safe assumption. A catalyst is by definition a substance that makes a reaction go faster but is not consumed in it. And all catalysts have the same overall way of achieving this: they lower the energy barrier or 'activation energy' between the reactants and the products. Hope that is helpful. :D

Answer 2

ty!