Log in or Sign up

Minerals and Mineralogy

  • Love

An open list of 2548 words by hernesheir.

Log in or sign up to add words to this list.

About

List of minerals, elements, group names and geochemistry terms encountered in the science of mineralogy. I've chosen to avoid capital letters in most examples, though a great many mineral names honor prominent researchers, the mineral's discoverer, the geographic locality of the initial discovery, or the type locality of the mineral species.

I attempt to restrict the listing of minerals to those whose names or synonyms have been approved by the International Mineralogical Assn., or have been submitted for approval by its Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification. A great many mineral names were published and long in common use before said Assn. (1959) and Commission were in existence. Those get a grandfatherly pass.

My lists Euvocalic Mineral Names, and Panvocalic Mineral Names are worth a look for those special names that contain all of the vowels.

Argillite is not a mineral. Neither are vegemite, marmite or sodomite. Check out this playful list for fake and made up mineral/gemstone names.

Contributors

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • Wordplayer Wait..why is perfect listed here? May 22, 2011

  • hernesheir Thanks so much, rt. Jun 15, 2010

  • reesetee Excellent list, hernesheir! Jun 15, 2010

  • frogapplause I'm in love with this list. I know nothing about mineralogy, but it's fun to find a mineral that's not already listed -- as well as one that meets hernesheir's requirements. I looked up "enargite" before adding it! Jun 11, 2010

  • hernesheir Teehee sionnach. There are some funny if not interesting names on that list. Jun 10, 2010

  • sionnach cummingtonite is still my all-time favorite! Maybe invitations to view this list could be send out on e-vite.

    (laffs uproariously at own feeble wit) Jun 10, 2010

  • hernesheir Thanks frogapplause. The name scyelite is a synonym of lizardite, the latter so named for its occurrence on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall.

    Mindat.org contains a list of approved mineral names, and also gives any synonyms of the approved names. Synonyms of approved names that are used and recognized in the literature get a pass here too, sometimes. Jun 8, 2010

  • frogapplause I added scyelite. I visited the sites you mentioned (IMA, etc), but I was never able to figure out if scyelite is an approved mineral. Jun 8, 2010

  • hernesheir Perhaps it is the lithium fraction in lepidolite that makes this mica such a "feel good" mineral to me.... Jun 2, 2010

  • hernesheir I'm attempting to restrict my additions of minerals to those whose names or synonyms have been approved by the International Mineralogical Assn., or submitted for approval by its Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification. Of course, a great many mineral names were published and in common use before said Assn. and Commission were in existence. Those get a grandfatherly pass. Jun 2, 2010

  • hernesheir I've opened the list - too many mineral species and too little time, and pusillanimous of me to hoard all the fun of listing minerals and mineralogy terms to myself. Jun 2, 2010

  • hernesheir Yes ruzuzu - glad to include lepidolite, my favorite mica. Jun 2, 2010

  • ruzuzu Would you count lepidolite? Jun 2, 2010