mineralogist
Studies Earth's crystals
A mineralogist is a scientist who studies minerals—their composition, structure, properties, and formation.
The field sits at the intersection of geology and chemistry: The mineralogist identified the crystal as a rare form of beryl.
Mineralogists work in academia, mining, museums, and environmental consulting.
Crystalline silicon dioxide
- amethystPurple semiprecious quartz
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
- micaLayered silicate mineral
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
pyrite · fluorite · tourmaline · garnet · olivine · malachite · azurite · gypsum
Resistance to penetration
- lusterSoft reflected light
- streakUnbroken series
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- fractureSplit in hard material
specific gravity · crystallography · tenacity · identification · microscope · specimen · hand lens · thin section
Surfacing native stone
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- field guidePortable species identification manual
- hammerTool for striking nails
- chiselEdged carving implement
collecting · excavation · deposit · vein · formation · prospecting · survey · mapping
Scientific study of rocks
- geologyStudy of Earth's composition
- silicatesSilicon-oxygen bonded minerals
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- crystal structureOrdered atomic arrangement in solids
chemical composition · research · laboratory · publication · museum · curation · academic · university
quartz
Crystalline silicon dioxide
calcite · pyrite · fluorite · tourmaline · garnet · olivine · malachite · azurite · gypsum · halite
hardness
Resistance to penetration
fracture · specific gravity · crystallography · tenacity · identification · microscope · specimen · hand lens · thin section · spectrometer
outcrop
Surfacing native stone
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- field guidePortable species identification manual
- hammerTool for striking nails
chisel · collecting · excavation · deposit · vein · formation · prospecting · survey · mapping · quarry
petrology
Scientific study of rocks
crystal structure · chemical composition · research · laboratory · publication · museum · curation · academic · university · survey
gemologist
Precious stone specialist
precious · semi-precious · diamonds · rubies · sapphires · emeralds · opal · topaz · turquoise · garnet
- physical scientistsphysicist, astrophysicist, geophysicist, biophysicist, nuclear physicist
- geoscientistsgeologist, geophysicist, geochemist, hydrogeologist, petrologist
- Mars scientistsastrobiologist, exobiologist
- scientistsbiologist, Einstein, anthropologist, Darwin, chemist
- rockhoundsrockhound, rock hound, lapidary
mineralogistbiologist
One who studies organisms
zoologist · botanist · marine biologist · microbiologist · ecologist
mineralogistjeweler
Gem and metal artisan
miner · lapidary · rock hound · prospector · quarryman