mineralogy

noun

min·​er·​al·​o·​gy ˌmi-nə-ˈrä-lə-jē  -ˈra- 

1

: a science dealing with minerals, their crystallography, properties, classification, and the ways of distinguishing them

2

: the mineralogical characteristics of an area, a rock, or a rock formation

mineralogical

ˌmi-nə-rə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

ˌmin-rə-

adjective

or less commonly mineralogic

ˌmi-nə-rə-ˈlä-jik 

ˌmin-rə-

mineralogically

ˌmi-nə-rə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

ˌmin-rə-

adverb

mineralogist

ˌmi-nə-ˈrä-lə-jist  -ˈra- 

noun

Examples of mineralogy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the early years, mineralogy was a scientific field dominated by men. —David Bressan, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024

Yeah, the color comes from a lot of the mineralogy, and those are much more common. —Abc News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2024

Curator at Music and Museums; Museum of Evolution; Palaeontology and mineralogy. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2024

With panoramic cameras, a microscopic imager, a rock abrasion tool, and three different spectrometers, the rovers made many discoveries about the geology and mineralogy of Mars. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Dec. 2010

Word History

Etymology

probably from New Latin *mineralogia, irregular from Medieval Latin minerale + Latin -logia -logy

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

mineralogy

noun

min·​er·​al·​o·​gy ˌmin-ə-ˈräl-ə-jē  -ˈral- 

: a science dealing with the characteristics and classification of minerals

mineralogical

ˌmin-(ə-)rə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

mineralogically

-ˈläj-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

mineralogist

ˌmin-ə-ˈräl-ə-jəst  -ˈral- 

noun