The sulfur cycle describes the movement of sulfur within the biosphere and lithosphere. Sulfur cycles between its mineral form in rocks and sediments and its organic form in living organisms. Key steps include the mineralization of organic sulfur into inorganic forms like hydrogen sulfide, oxidation of these forms to sulfate, reduction of sulfate back to sulfide, and incorporation of sulfide into organic compounds. Sulfur is an essential nutrient for life and affects many minerals through these geochemical cycles.