Mineralogy
Mineralogy (min-er-al-o-gy)
Mineralogy is the study of minerals, their crystalline structures, physical properties, chemical composition, and occurrence in nature.
Etymology
The term 'mineralogy' is derived from the Latin word 'mineralis' meaning 'something mined' and the Greek word 'logos' meaning 'study of'.
Related Terms
- Crystallography: The science that deals with the forms and structures of crystals.
- Petrology: The branch of geology that studies the origin, composition, distribution and structure of rocks.
- Geology: The science that deals with the earth's physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it.
- Chemistry: The branch of science that deals with the identification of the substances of which matter is composed.
- Physics: The branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy.
Pronunciation
mi·ne·ral·o·gy | \ ˌmi-nə-ˈra-lə-jē \
Definition
Mineralogy is a branch of Earth Science that involves studying minerals, which are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a specific chemical composition and a crystalline structure. Mineralogists, professionals who study mineralogy, examine samples to identify their composition and properties, such as color, hardness, and crystalline structure. They also study how minerals form and their geographic distribution.
Applications
Mineralogy has applications in many fields, including geology, archaeology, material science, and environmental science. It is used to identify minerals in rocks, understand the processes that led to their formation, and determine their potential uses.
Sub-disciplines
There are several sub-disciplines within mineralogy, including:
- Descriptive mineralogy: Focuses on the description and classification of minerals.
- Chemical mineralogy: Studies the chemical composition of minerals.
- Physical mineralogy: Examines the physical properties of minerals.
- Optical mineralogy: Uses light microscopy to study minerals.
- Biomineralogy: Studies the role of minerals in biological systems.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mineralogy
- Wikipedia's article - Mineralogy
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