mineralogy
Study of crystals
Mineralogy is the scientific study of minerals—their composition, structure, properties, and classification.
A branch of geology, it examines how minerals form, where they occur, and how they can be identified.
She studied mineralogy before working in the mining industry.
Someone who practices this science is a mineralogist.
Resistance to penetration
- lusterSoft reflected light
- streakUnbroken series
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- fractureSplit in hard material
specific gravity · tenacity · magnetism · fluorescence · phosphorescence · asterism · brittleness · malleability
Instrument for viewing minute objects
- thin sectionRock sliver for microscopy
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- polarized lightWaves oscillating in one direction
- petrographicConcerning rock composition study
chemical analysis · flame test · blowpipe · determinative · diagnostic · dichotomous key
Pocket-sized detail viewer
- hand lensHandheld magnification device
- geologistStudies rocks and minerals
- outcropSurfacing native stone
- specimenIndividual for examination
sampling · prospecting · hammer · chisel · streak plate · acid test · field guide · collecting
Oxygen-bound crystal compound
- carbonateAdd dissolved gas
- sulfateAcidic salt compound
- halideHalogen-element compound
- phosphatePO₄ ion compound
oxide · hydroxide · sulfide · borate · native · arsenate · chromate · tungstate
Openwork of crossed strips
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- facetPlane on cut stone
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- habitSettled regular tendency
twinning · morphology · transparency · refraction · piezoelectricity · isomorphism · anisotropy · crystallography
Magnetic iron ore
- hematiteIron oxide ore
- galenaSulfide ore of lead
- cassiteritePrincipal tin oxide ore
- bauxiteAluminum hydroxide ore
pyrite · cinnabar · wolframite · extraction · metallurgy · smelting · tailings · concentrate
hardness
Resistance to penetration
fracture · specific gravity · tenacity · magnetism · fluorescence · phosphorescence · asterism · brittleness · malleability · radioactivity
microscope
Instrument for viewing minute objects
- thin sectionRock sliver for microscopy
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- polarized lightWaves oscillating in one direction
petrographic · chemical analysis · flame test · blowpipe · determinative · diagnostic · dichotomous key
loupe
Pocket-sized detail viewer
- hand lensHandheld magnification device
- geologistStudies rocks and minerals
- outcropSurfacing native stone
specimen · sampling · prospecting · hammer · chisel · streak plate · acid test · field guide · collecting · locality
silicate
Oxygen-bound crystal compound
phosphate · oxide · hydroxide · sulfide · borate · native · arsenate · chromate · tungstate · nitrate
lattice
Openwork of crossed strips
habit · twinning · morphology · transparency · refraction · piezoelectricity · isomorphism · anisotropy · crystallography · prismatic
magnetite
Magnetic iron ore
- hematiteIron oxide ore
- galenaSulfide ore of lead
- cassiteritePrincipal tin oxide ore
bauxite · pyrite · cinnabar · wolframite · extraction · metallurgy · smelting · tailings · concentrate · gangue
diamond
Crystallized carbon gemstone
topaz · amethyst · turquoise · opal · garnet · aquamarine · tourmaline · peridot · tanzanite · spinel
- sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology
- disciplinesbiology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology
- natural historynatural history, natural history museum, naturalist, naturalists, natural philosophers
- Physical Sciencesphysics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, meteorology
- Victorian scholarshipphilology, classics, natural history, antiquarianism, classical studies
- Geosciencegeophysics, seismology, geodesy, hydrology, geochemistry
mineralogybiology
Study of organisms
botany · zoology · life sciences · microbiology · ecology
mineralogygeodynamics
Science of Earth's motion
plate tectonics · geomorphology · oceanography · meteorology · climatology