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mineral

Definitions of mineral
  1. noun
    solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
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    types:
    anfíbol
    a mineral or mineral variety belonging to the amphibole group
    augita
    dark-green to black glassy mineral of the pyroxene group containing large amounts of aluminum and iron and magnesium
    bauxita
    a clay-like mineral; the chief ore of aluminum; composed of aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides; used as an abrasive and catalyst
    berilo
    the chief source of beryllium; colored transparent varieties are valued as gems
    bórax
    an ore of boron consisting of hydrated sodium borate; used as a flux or cleansing agent
    calcopirita
    a yellow copper ore (CuFeS2) made up of copper and iron sulfide
    corindón
    very hard mineral used as an abrasive
    esmeril
    a hard grey-black mineral consisting of corundum and either hematite or magnetite; used as an abrasive (especially as a coating on paper)
    granate, piropo
    any of a group of hard glassy minerals (silicates of various metals) used as gemstones and as an abrasive
    yeso
    a common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters (especially plaster of Paris)
    malaquita
    a green or blue mineral used as an ore of copper and for making ornamental objects
    mica
    any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity
    ópalo
    a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones
    magnesia
    a white solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase; a source of magnesium
    pirita
    a common mineral (iron disulfide) that has a pale yellow color
    cuarzo
    a hard glossy mineral consisting of silicon dioxide in crystal form; present in most rocks (especially sandstone and granite); yellow sand is quartz with iron oxide impurities
    talco
    a fine grained mineral having a soft soapy feel and consisting of hydrated magnesium silicate; used in a variety of products including talcum powder
    topacio
    a mineral (fluosilicate of aluminum) that occurs in crystals of various colors and is used as a gemstone
    turmalina
    a mineral that is a complex borosilicate and hydroxide of aluminum containing iron and magnesium and calcium and lithium and sodium; it is usually black but occurs in transparent colored forms that are used as gemstones
    turquesa
    a blue to grey green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate
    circón
    a common mineral occurring in small crystals; chief source of zirconium; used as a refractory when opaque and as a gem when transparent
    alabastro
    a compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving
    amatista, ametista
    a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone
    amianto, asbesto
    a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
    calcedonia
    a milky or greyish translucent to transparent quartz
    crisólito
    a brown or yellow-green olivine found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and used as a gemstone
    alúmina
    any of various forms of aluminum oxide occurring naturally as corundum
    siena, tierra de siena
    an earth color containing ferric oxides; used as a pigment
    ocre
    any of various earths containing silica and alumina and ferric oxide; used as a pigment
    esmeralda
    a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone
    feldespato
    any of a group of hard crystalline minerals that consist of aluminum silicates of potassium or sodium or calcium or barium
    jacinto
    a red transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone
    calcita
    a common mineral consisting of crystallized calcium carbonate; a major constituent of limestone
    rubí
    a transparent deep red variety of corundum; used as a gemstone and in lasers
    zafiro
    a precious transparent stone of rich blue corundum valued as a gemstone
    esteatita
    a soft heavy compact variety of talc having a soapy feel; used to make hearths and tabletops and ornaments
    type of:
    materia
    the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
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