mineral
Other forms: minerals
A mineral is a nonliving natural substance of a definite chemical composition. A mineral like manganese may help keep you healthy; a mineral like a diamond may help keep you sparkly.
At one time mineral referred to valuable substances obtained in mines. Although that still can be the case, today the word has several senses (both noun and adjective) and may be found almost anywhere — in the ground, in the air, or on the periodic table. And if you remember mineral when you remember animal and vegetable, you’ve got a better chance of winning Twenty Questions.
Definitions of mineral
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solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
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types:
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ader wax, earth wax, mineral wax, ozocerite, ozokerite
a waxy mineral that is a mixture of hydrocarbons and occurs in association with petroleum; some varieties are used in making ceresin and candles
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amblygonite
a white or grey mineral consisting of lithium aluminum phosphate; a source of lithium
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amphibole
a mineral or mineral variety belonging to the amphibole group
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amphibole group
a group of minerals with similar crystal structures containing a silicate chain and combinations of chiefly sodium and calcium and magnesium and iron and aluminum
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apatite
a common complex mineral consisting of calcium fluoride phosphate or calcium chloride phosphate; a source of phosphorus
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aragonite
a mineral form of crystalline calcium carbonate; dimorphic with calcite
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argentite
a valuable silver ore consisting of silver sulfide (Ag2S)
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argyrodite
a rare steel-grey mineral consisting of silver and germanium and sulfur
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arsenopyrite, mispickel
a silver-white or grey ore of arsenic
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asphalt, mineral pitch
a dark bituminous substance found in natural beds and as residue from petroleum distillation; consists mainly of hydrocarbons
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augite
dark-green to black glassy mineral of the pyroxene group containing large amounts of aluminum and iron and magnesium
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baddeleyite
a mineral consisting of zirconium oxide
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bastnaesite, bastnasite
a yellow-to-brown mineral that is a source of rare earth elements
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bauxite
a clay-like mineral; the chief ore of aluminum; composed of aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides; used as an abrasive and catalyst
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beryl
the chief source of beryllium; colored transparent varieties are valued as gems
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borax
an ore of boron consisting of hydrated sodium borate; used as a flux or cleansing agent
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bornite, peacock ore
a mineral consisting of sulfides of copper and iron that is found in copper deposits
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carnallite
a white or reddish mineral consisting of hydrous chlorides of potassium and magnesium; used as a fertilizer and as a source of potassium and magnesium
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cassiterite
a hard heavy dark mineral that is the chief source of tin
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celestite
a mineral consisting of strontium sulphate
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cerussite, white lead ore
a mineral consisting of lead carbonate that is an important source of lead
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chalcocite, copper glance
a heavy grey mineral that is an ore of copper
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chalcopyrite, copper pyrites
a yellow copper ore (CuFeS2) made up of copper and iron sulfide
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chlorite
a generally green or black mineral; it occurs as a constituent of many rocks typically in the form of a flat crystal
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chromite
a brownish-black mineral; the major source of chromium
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chrysoberyl
a rare hard yellow green mineral consisting of beryllium aluminate in crystal form; used as a gemstone
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cinnabar
a heavy reddish mineral consisting of mercuric sulfide; the chief source of mercury
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cobaltite
a rare silvery-white mineral; important ore of cobalt
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halite, rock salt
naturally occurring crystalline sodium chloride
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coltan, columbite-tantalite
a valuable black mineral combining niobite and tantalite; used in cell phones and computer chips
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cordierite
a blue mineral of magnesium and iron and aluminum and silicon and oxygen; often used as a gemstone
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corundom, corundum
very hard mineral used as an abrasive
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cristobalite
a white mineral consisting of silica; found in volcanic rocks
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crocolite
a rare lead chromite mineral that forms bright orange crystals
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Greenland spar, cryolite
a white mineral consisting of fluorides of aluminum and sodium; a source of fluorine
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cuprite
a mineral consisting of cuprous oxide that is a source of copper
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bitter spar, dolomite
a light colored mineral consisting of calcium magnesium carbonate; a source of magnesium; used as a ceramic and as fertilizer
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earth color
a colored mineral used as a pigment
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emery
a hard grey-black mineral consisting of corundum and either hematite or magnetite; used as an abrasive (especially as a coating on paper)
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cobalt bloom, erythrite
a reddish mineral consisting of hydrated cobalt arsenate in monoclinic crystalline form and used in coloring glass; usually found in veins bearing cobalt and arsenic
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fergusonite
a dark mineral consisting of oxides of yttrium and erbium and tantalum and other minerals
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fluor, fluorite, fluorspar
a soft mineral (calcium fluoride) that is fluorescent in ultraviolet light; chief source of fluorine
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gadolinite, ytterbite
a mineral that is a source of rare earths; consists of silicates of iron and beryllium and cerium and yttrium and erbium
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galena
soft blue-grey mineral; lead sulfide; a major source of lead
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garnet
any of a group of hard glassy minerals (silicates of various metals) used as gemstones and as an abrasive
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garnierite
a green mineral consisting of hydrated nickel magnesium silicate; a source of nickel
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germanite
a rare reddish-grey mineral consisting of a copper iron germanium sulfide
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gibbsite
white crystalline mineral consisting of aluminum hydroxide; a constituent of bauxite and a source of alumina
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glauconite
a green mineral consisting of hydrated silicate of potassium or iron or magnesium or aluminum; found in greensand
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cadmium sulphide, greenockite
ore of cadmium; a rare yellowish mineral consisting of cadmium sulphide in crystalline form
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gypsum
a common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters (especially plaster of Paris)
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hausmannite
a mineral consisting of manganese tetroxide; a source of manganese
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barite, barium sulphate, barytes, heavy spar
a white or colorless mineral (BaSO4); the main source of barium
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calamine, hemimorphite
a white mineral; a common ore of zinc
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ilmenite
a weakly magnetic black mineral found in metamorphic and plutonic rocks; an iron titanium oxide in crystalline form; a source of titanium
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jadeite
a hard green mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate in monoclinic crystalline form; a source of jade; found principally in Burma
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kainite
a white mineral consisting of magnesium sulphate and potassium chloride; a source of potassium salts; used as a fertilizer
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kaolinite
a mineral consisting of aluminum silicate; main source of kaolin
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kernite
a light soft mineral consisting of hydrated sodium borate in crystalline form; an important source of boron
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kieserite
a white mineral consisting of hydrous magnesium sulfate often found in salt mines
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cyanite, kyanite
a grey or greenish-blue mineral consisting of aluminum silicate in crystalline form; occurs in metaphoric rock, used as a refractory
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langbeinite
a mineral consisting of potassium magnesium double sulphate; used as a fertilizer
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magnesite
a white mineral consisting of magnesium carbonate; a source of magnesium
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malachite
a green or blue mineral used as an ore of copper and for making ornamental objects
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maltha, mineral tar
a thick black tar intermediate between petroleum and asphalt
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manganite
a black mineral consisting of basic manganese oxide; a source of manganese
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meerschaum, sepiolite
a white clayey mineral
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isinglass, 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
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millerite
a yellow mineral consisting of nickel sulfide; a minor source of nickel
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molybdenite
a mineral resembling graphite that is valued as the chief source of molybdenum and its compounds
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monazite
a reddish-brown mineral containing rare earth metals; an important source of thorium and cerium
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nepheline, nephelite
a whitish mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate or potassium aluminum silicate in crystalline form; used in the manufacture of ceramics and enamels
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nephelinite
an igneous rock consisting of nepheline and pyroxene
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columbite, niobite
a black mineral that is an ore of niobium and tantalum
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nitrocalcite
the mineral form of calcium nitrate
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olivine
a mineral consisting of magnesium iron silicate; a source of magnesium
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olivenite
rare green to black mineral consisting of hydrated copper arsenate that is found in copper deposits
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opal
a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones
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ore
a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
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orpiment
a yellow mineral occurring in conjunction with realgar; an ore of arsenic
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iridosmine, osmiridium
a hard and corrosion resistant mineral that is a natural alloy of osmium and iridium (usually containing small amounts of rhodium and platinum); used in needles and pen nibs etc.
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pentlandite
a mineral (iron and nickel sulphide) that is the chief ore of nickel
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magnesia, magnesium oxide, periclase
a white solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase; a source of magnesium
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pinite
grey or green or brown mineral similar to mica and containing aluminum and potassium sulphates
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pollucite
a rare mineral that is an important source of cesium
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psilomelane
a mineral consisting of hydrated basic oxide of manganese and barium; a source of manganese
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fool's gold, iron pyrite, pyrite
a common mineral (iron disulfide) that has a pale yellow color
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pyrolusite
a mineral consisting of manganese dioxide; an important source of manganese
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green lead ore, pyromorphite
a mineral consisting of lead chloride and phosphate; a minor source of lead
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pyrophyllite
a white or greenish aluminum silicate mineral (resembles talc)
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pyroxene
any of a group of crystalline silicate mineral common in igneous and metamorphic rocks
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magnetic pyrites, pyrrhotine, pyrrhotite
a brownish iron sulfide mineral (FeS) having weak magnetic properties
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quartz
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
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realgar
a rare soft orange mineral consisting of arsenic sulphide; an important ore of arsenic
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red clay
clay whose redness results from iron oxide
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rhodochrosite
a mineral consisting of manganese carbonate; a source of manganese
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rhodonite
a pink or red mineral consisting of crystalline manganese silicate; used as an ornamental stone
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rutile
a mineral consisting of titanium dioxide in crystalline form; occurs in metamorphic and plutonic rocks and is a major source of titanium
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samarskite
a complex black mineral occurring in pegmatites
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sapphirine
a rare light blue or green mineral; consists of aluminum and magnesium silicate and occurs as small grains in some metamorphic rocks
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scheelite
a mineral used as an ore of tungsten
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smaltite
a grey mineral consisting of cobalt arsenide and nickel; an important source of cobalt and nickel
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sodalite
a vitreous mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate and sodium chloride in crystalline form; occurs in igneous rocks
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spar
any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable
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spinel
a hard glassy mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum; occurs in various colors that are used as gemstones
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spodumene
a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminum silicate; a source of lithium
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stannite, tin pyrites
a dark grey mineral with a metallic luster that is a source of tin
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stibnite
a soft grey mineral; the chief ore of antimony
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strontianite
a mineral consisting of strontium carbonate
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graphic tellurium, sylvanite
a silver-white mineral consisting of silver gold telluride; a source of gold in Australia and America
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sylvine, sylvite
a mineral consisting of native potassium chloride; an important ore of potassium that is found in sedimentary beds
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talc, talcum
a fine grained mineral having a soft soapy feel and consisting of hydrated magnesium silicate; used in a variety of products including talcum powder
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tantalite
a mineral consisting of tantalum oxide of iron and manganese that occurs with niobite or in coarse granite; an ore of tantalum
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thorite
a radioactive mineral consisting of thorium silicate; it is a source of thorium that is found in coarse granite
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thortveitite
a mineral consisting of scandium yttrium silicate; a source of scandium
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topaz
a mineral (fluosilicate of aluminum) that occurs in crystals of various colors and is used as a gemstone
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tourmaline
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
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tridymite
a mineral form of silica
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turquoise
a blue to grey green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate
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vanadinite
a mineral consisting of chloride and vanadate of lead; a source of vanadium
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vermiculite
any of a group of yellow or brown hydrous silicate minerals having a micaceous structure
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idocrase, vesuvian, vesuvianite
a green or yellow or brown mineral consisting of a hydrated silicate; it occurs as crystals in limestone and is used a gemstone
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iron manganese tungsten, wolframite
a mineral consisting of iron and manganese tungstate in crystalline form; the principal ore of tungsten; found in quartz veins associated with granitic rocks
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wollastonite
a white or greyish mineral typically found in metamorphic limestone; a silicate of calcium
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wulfenite
a yellow to orange or brown mineral used as a molybdenum ore
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wurtzite
a brownish-black mineral consisting of zinc sulfide
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xenotime
a brown-to-yellow mineral that is a phosphate of yttrium in crystalline form
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zeolite
any of a family of glassy minerals analogous to feldspar containing hydrated aluminum silicates of calcium or sodium or potassium; formed in cavities in lava flows and in plutonic rocks
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blende, sphalerite, zinc blende
an ore that is the chief source of zinc; consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form
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zinkenite
a steel grey metallic mineral (a sulphide of lead and antimony)
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zircon, zirconium silicate
a common mineral occurring in small crystals; chief source of zirconium; used as a refractory when opaque and as a gem when transparent
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quartz crystal
a thin plate or small rod of quartz cut along certain lines and ground so that it can produce an electric signal at a constant frequency; used in crystal oscillators
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alabaster
a compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving
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azurite
blue carbonate of copper; blue malachite
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biotite
dark brown to black mica found in igneous and metamorphic rock
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fluorapatite
a form of apatite in which fluorine predominates over chlorine
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almandine, almandite
a deep red garnet consisting of iron aluminum silicate
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gesso
gypsum or plaster of Paris spread on a surface to make it suitable for painting or gilding (or a surface so prepared)
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lepidolite
a mineral of the mica group; an important source of lithium
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muscovite
a colorless or pale brown mica with potassium
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nephrite
an amphibole mineral consisting of calcium magnesium silicate in monoclinic crystalline form; a source of jade that is less valuable than from jadeite; once believed to cure kidney disorders
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paragonite
a colorless or pale brown mica with sodium
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phlogopite
a brown form of mica consisting of hydrous silicate of potassium and magnesium and aluminum
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rock crystal, transparent quartz
a clear quartz used in making electronic and optical equipment
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cairngorm, smoky quartz
a smoky yellow or brown quartz
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alexandrite
a green variety of chrysoberyl used as a gemstone
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amethyst
a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone
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actinolite
a green mineral of the amphibole group; calcium magnesium iron silicate
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anthophyllite
a dark brown mineral of the amphibole group; magnesium iron silicate
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asbestos
a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
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hornblende
a green to black mineral of the amphibole group; consists of silicates of calcium and sodium and magnesium and iron
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aquamarine
a transparent variety of beryl that is blue green in color
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black opal
a dark colored opal with internal reflections of green or red
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calcedony, chalcedony
a milky or greyish translucent to transparent quartz
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chrysolite
a brown or yellow-green olivine found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and used as a gemstone
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citrine
semiprecious yellow quartz resembling topaz
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alumina, aluminium oxide, aluminum oxide
any of various forms of aluminum oxide occurring naturally as corundum
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andradite
a garnet consisting of calcium iron silicate and having any color ranging from yellow and green to brown and black; used as gemstone
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concentrate, dressed ore
the desired mineral that is left after impurities have been removed from mined ore
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sienna
an earth color containing ferric oxides; used as a pigment
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ocher, ochre
any of various earths containing silica and alumina and ferric oxide; used as a pigment
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emerald
a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone
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feldspar, felspar
any of a group of hard crystalline minerals that consist of aluminum silicates of potassium or sodium or calcium or barium
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fire opal, girasol
an opal with flaming orange and yellow and red colors
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carbuncle
deep-red cabochon garnet cut without facets
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cinnamon stone, essonite, hessonite
a garnet ranging in color from yellow to brown
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terra alba
finely pulverized gypsum used especially as a pigment
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harlequin opal
a reddish opal with small patches of brilliant color
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hyacinth, jacinth
a red transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone
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iron ore
an ore from which iron can be extracted
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jargon, jargoon
a colorless (or pale yellow or smoky) variety of zircon
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kunzite
a pinkish lilac crystal form of the mineral spodumene that is used as a gemstone
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lead ore
ore containing lead
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calcite
a common mineral consisting of crystallized calcium carbonate; a major constituent of limestone
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morganite
a kind of pink beryl used as a gemstone
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pay dirt
ore that yields a substantial profit to the miner
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pyrope
a deep red garnet used as a gemstone
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rhodolite
a red or pink variety of garnet used as a gemstone
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rose quartz
a translucent rose-red variety of quartz used for ornaments
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ruby
a transparent deep red variety of corundum; used as a gemstone and in lasers
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water sapphire
a deep blue cordierite often used as a gemstone
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sapphire
a precious transparent stone of corundum, typically a rich blue, valued as a gemstone
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schorl
black tourmaline
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soap-rock, soaprock, soapstone, steatite
a soft heavy compact variety of talc having a soapy feel; used to make hearths and tabletops and ornaments
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ruby spinel, spinel ruby
a spinel used as a gemstone (usually dark red)
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Ceylonite, pleonaste
a dark-colored spinel containing iron
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hiddenite
a green transparent form of the mineral spodumene used as a gemstone
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aventurine, sunstone
a translucent quartz spangled with bits of mica or other minerals
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French chalk
a soft white compact talc used to mark cloth or to remove grease stains
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rensselaerite
a kind of soft talc; sometimes used as wood filler
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common topaz, false topaz, topaz
a yellow quartz
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umber
an earth pigment
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uranium ore
any ore from which uranium can be extracted
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chabasite, chabazite
a group of minerals of the zeolite family consisting of a hydrous silicate of calcium and aluminum
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heulandite
a group of minerals of the zeolite family consisting of a hydrous aluminum silicate of sodium and calcium
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natrolite
a group of minerals of the zeolite family consisting of a hydrous silicate of sodium and aluminum
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phillipsite
a group of white or reddish crystalline minerals of the zeolite family consisting of a hydrous silicate of calcium and potassium and aluminum
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zinnwaldite
a mica containing iron and lithium
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relating to minerals“mineral elements”“mineral deposits”
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composed of matter other than plant or animal“the inorganic mineral world”
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Synonyms:
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inorganic
lacking the properties characteristic of living organisms
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inorganic
Pronunciation
US
/ˈmɪnərəl/
UK
/ˈmɪnərəl/
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