mineralogy

[ min-uh-rol-uh-jee, -ral-uh- ]

noun

1. the science or study of minerals.

mineralogy

/ ˌmɪnəˈrælədʒɪ; ˌmɪnərəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the branch of geology concerned with the study of minerals

mineralogy

/ mĭn′ə-rŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of minerals, their composition and properties, and the places where they are likely to occur.

Derived Forms

• ˌminerˈalogist, noun
• ˌmineralˈogically, adverb
• mineralogical, adjective

Other Words From

• min·er·al·og·i·cal [min-er-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], miner·al·ogic adjective
• miner·al·ogi·cal·ly adverb
• miner·alo·gist noun
• nonmin·er·al·ogi·cal adjective
• nonmin·er·al·ogi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mineralogy¹

First recorded in 1680–90; minera(l) + -logy

Example Sentences

An Oregon State University researcher who made color history in 2009 with a vivid blue pigment has developed durable, reddish magentas inspired by lunar mineralogy and ancient Egyptian chemistry.

From Science Daily

The team also examined sediment structures, mineralogy, diatoms and geochemistry to characterize the depositional record.

From Science Daily

Further investigations in the new study indicated that heating CI samples under reducing conditions at 300 °C reproduced Ryugu's sample mineralogy well, resulting in spectra closely matching those of Ryugu samples.

From Science Daily

Lauretta said preliminary analysis of the first bits of the sample showed that orbital observations of the asteroid had "predicted the mineralogy very accurately."

From Reuters

Because its present-day chemistry and mineralogy are virtually unchanged since forming some 4.5 billion years ago, it holds valuable clues to the origins and development of rocky planets such as Earth.

From Reuters