In the beginning, when mankind finally discovered that they needed minerals, they  made tablets.  Minerals smashed together Very poorly absorbed minerals but maybe better than nothing.

Then came capsules. Science proved that more area allowed the digestive powers of the body to absorb more mineral if it were smaller or powdered. Thus better than tablets, but still depending on the individuals ability to digest food.

Next was amino acid chelates or chelated minerals.
(pronounced: key lated)  These minerals were wrapped in amino acids to hep the body digest and absorb more mineral than capsules.

Next came the stage most people are aware of! The Great Colloidal mineral extravaganza!  Dead Doctors don't lie tapes and fulvic minerals. Taking the MLM sales world by storm! A colloid is :

"a homogeneous noncrystalline substance consisting of large molecules or ultramicroscopic particles of one substance dispersed through a second substance. Colloids include gels, sols, and emulsions; the particles do not settle, and cannot be separated out by ordinary filtering or centrifuging like those in a suspension."

Plain English please!  In other words, minerals in water in chunks so small they can not be seen by the naked eye. If it says " shake well" Might as well throw it in the garbage!