Mineral Name Origin and Classification

Mineral Name	Name Origin	Class
Gold	Anglo-Saxon	Native Elements
Silver	Anglo-Saxon	Native Elements
Platinum	Spanish “plata”= silver	Native Elements
Antimony	Medieval Latin “antimonium” = stibnite	Native Elements
Bismuth	German “wismut” = bismuth	Native Elements
Sulfur	Latin “sulfur” = sulfur	Native Elements
Graphite	Greek “graphein” = to write	Native Elements
Acanthite	Greek “akantha” = thorn	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Chalcocite	Greek “chalcos” = copper	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Bornite	Ignaz von Born (1742-1791), mineralogist	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Galena	Latin “galena” = lead ore	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Sphalerite	Greek “sphaleros” = treacherous	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Chalcopyrite	Greek “chalcos” = copper + “pyrites” = fury	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Pyrrhotite	Greek “pyrrhotes” = redness	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Nickeline	Latin “nicolum” = nickel	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Millerite	W. H. Miller (1801-1880), mineralogist	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Pentlandite	J. B. Pentland (? – 1873), scientist	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Covellite	Niccolò Covelli (1790-18290, mineralogist	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Cinnabar	India?	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Realgar	Arabic “rahj al-ghar” = “powder of the mine”	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Orpiment	Latin “auripigmentum” = “gold pigment”	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Stibnite	Greek “stibi” = antimony	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Bismuthanite	Bismuth content	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Pyrite	Greek “pyr” = fire	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Cobaltite	German “Kolbold” = underground spirit	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Marcasite	Arabic?	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Arsenopyrite	Contraction of “arsenical pyrites”	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Molybdenite	Greek “molybdos” = lead	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Skutterudite	Source at Skutterud, Norway	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Calaverite	Source at Calavaras Co., California	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Sylvanite	Source at Transylvania	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Stephanite	Archduke Stephen (?-1867), Mining Director	Sulfosalts
Pyrargyrite	Greek “pyr” = fire + “argyros” = silver	Sulfosalts
Proustite	Joseph Louis Proust (1754-1826), chemist	Sulfosalts
Tetrahedrite	English “tetrahedron”	Sulfosalts
Enargite	Greek “enargos” = visible	Sulfosalts
Bournonite	Count J. L. de Bournon (1751-1825), chrystallographer	Sulfosalts
Boulangerite	C. L. Boulanger (1810-1849), mining engineer	Sulfosalts
Jamesonite	Robert Jameson (1774-1854)	Sulfosalts
Cuprite	Latin “cuprum” = copper	Simple Oxides
Zincite	Zinc content	Simple Oxides
Corundum	Tamil “kuruntam” from Sanskrit “kuruvinda” = ruby	Simple Oxides
Hematite	Greek “haimatites” = bloodlike	Simple Oxides
Ilmenite	Source at Ilman Mts., USSR	Simple Oxides
Bixbyite	Maynard Bixby	Simple Oxides
Rutile	Latin “rutilus” = reddish	Simple Oxides
Pyrolusite	Greek “pyr” = fire + “louien” = to wash	Simple Oxides
Cassiterite	Greek “kassiteros” = tin	Simple Oxides
Uraninite	Uranium content	Simple Oxides
Gummite	From ‘gum-like’ properties?	Simple Oxides
Brucite	Archibald Bruce (1777-1818), mineralogist	Hydroxides
Manganite	Manganese content	Hydroxides
Bauxite	Source at Baux, France	Hydroxides
Psilomelane	Greek “psilos” = smooth + “melas” = black	Hydroxides
Goethite	Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), poet, etc.	Hydroxides
Limonite	Greek “leimons” = meadow	Hydroxides
Spinel	Latin “spina” = thorn	Multiple Oxides
Magnetite	Source at Magnesia	Multiple Oxides
Franklinite	Source at Franklin and Sterling Hill, Sussex Co., NJ	Multiple Oxides
Chromite	Chromium content	Multiple Oxides
Chrysoberyl	Greek “chrysos” = yellow + “beryllos” = beryl	Multiple Oxides
Columbite	Columbium (niobium) content	Multiple Oxides
Tantalite	Tantalum content	Multiple Oxides
Halite	Greek “hals” = salt	Halite
Chlorargyrite	Chlorine content + Greek “argyros” = silver	Halite
Fluorite	Latin “fluere” = to flow	Halite
Cryolite	Greek “kryos” = frost + “lithos” = stone	Halite
Calcite	Greek “chalx” = lime	Carbonates
Magnesite	Magnesium content	Carbonates
Siderite	Greek “sideros” = iron	Carbonates
Rhodochrosite	Greek “rhodon” = rose + “chros” = color	Carbonates
Smithsonite	James Smithson (1765-1829), philanthropist	Carbonates
Aragonite	Source at Aragon Province, Spain	Carbonates
Witherite	W. Withering (1741-1799), mineralogist	Carbonates
Strontianite	Source at Strontian, Argyll, Scotland	Carbonates
Cerussite	Latin “cerussa” = ceruse (white lead pigment)	Carbonates
Dolomite	Deodat de Dolomieu (1750-1801), mineralogist	Carbonates
Aurichalcite	Greek “oreichalkon” = copper	Carbonates
Malachite	Greek “moloche” = mallow	Carbonates
Azurite	Azure-blue color	Carbonates
Kernite	Source at Kern Co., California	Bornites
Borax	Arabic “buraq” = borax or niter	Bornites
Ulexite	Georg Ludwig Ulex (1811-1883), chemist	Bornites
Colemanite	William T. Coleman, merchant & mine owner	Bornites
Howlite	Henry How (?-1879), chemist	Bornites
Thenardite	Louis Thenard (1777-1857), chemist	Sulfates
Barite	Greek “barys” = heavy	Sulfates
Celestite	Latin “Caelestis” = of the sky	Sulfates
Anglesite	Source at Isle of Anglesey, Wales	Sulfates
Anhydrite	Greek, means “without water”	Sulfates
Glauberite	Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604-1668), chemist	Sulfates
Gypsum	Greek “gypsos” = gypsum or plaster	Sulfates
Chalcanthite	Greek “chalcos” = copper + “anthos” = flower	Sulfates
Melanterite	Greek “melanteria” = black metallic pigment	Sulfates
Epsomite	Source at Epsom, England	Sulfates
Brochantite	A. T. M. Brochant de Villiers (1731-1840), mineralogist	Sulfates
Linarite	Source at Linares, Jaen province, Spain	Sulfates
Jarosite	Source at Jaroso Ravine, Sierra Almagrera, Spain	Sulfates
Cyanotrichite	Greek “kyanos” = blue + “thrix” = hair	Sulfates
Crocoite	Greek “krokos” = saffron	Chromates
Triphylite	Greek “tri” = three + “phylon” = tribe	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Monazite	Greek “monazein” = to be alone	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Vivianite	J. G. Vivian, mineralogist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Erythrite	Greek “erythros” = red	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Variscite	Source at Variscia, Germany	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Conichalcite	Greek “konis” = powder + “chalx” = lime	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Austinite	Austin F. Rogers (1877-1957), mineralogist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Descloizite	Alfred L. O. L. Des Cloizeau (1817-1897), mineralogist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Amblygonite	Greek “amblygonios” = blunt angle	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Olivenite	German “olivenerz” = olive ore	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Adamite	Gilbert-Joseph Adam (1795-1881), mineralogist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Apatite	Greek “apate” = deceit	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Pyromorphite	Greek “pyr” = fire + “morphe” = form	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Mimetite	Greek “mimetes” = imitator	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Vanadinite	Vanadium content	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Lazulite	Old Arabic “lazaward” = heaven	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Turquoise	French “turquoise” = Turkish	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Legrandite	Legrand, a Belgian mine manager	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Wavellite	William Wavell (?-1829), physician	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Torbernite	Torbern Bergmann (1735-1784), chemist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Autunite	Source at Autun, Saône-et-Loire, France	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Carnotite	Marie-Adolfe Carnot (1839-1920), engineer and chemist	Vanadium Oxysalts
Wolframite	“volf” = wolf + “rahm” = cream	Molybdates and Tungstates
Scheelite	Karl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786), chemist	Molybdates and Tungstates
Wulfenite	Franz Xaver von Wulfen (1728-1805), mineralogist	Molybdates and Tungstates
Quartz	German “quarz”	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Chalcedony	Chalcedon, ancient Greek city	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Opal	Sanskrit “upala” = precious stone	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Orthoclase	Greek “orthos” = upright + “klasis” = fracture	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Albite	Latin “albus” = white	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Oligoclase	Greek “oligos” = little + “klasis” = fracture	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Andesine	Source at Andes Mountains	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Labradorite	Source at Labrador	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Bytownite	Source at Bytown, now Ottawa, Canada	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Anorthite	Greek “an” = not + “orthos” = upright	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Danburite	Source at Danbury, Connecticut	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Leucite	Greek “leukois” = white	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Nepheline	Greek “nephele” = clouded	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Sodalite	Sodium content	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Lazurite	Arabic “lazaward” = heaven	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Scapolite	Greek “scapos” = shaft	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Heulandite	Henry Heuland, mineralogist	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Stilbite	Greek “stilbein” = to glitter	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Laumontite	Gillette de Laumont (1747-1834), mineralogist	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Chabazite	Greek “chabazios” = stones	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Analcime	Greek “an” = not + “alkimos” = strong	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Natrolite	Greek “nitron” = niter + “lithos” = stone	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Mesolite	Greek “mesos” = middle + “lithos” = stone	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Apophyllite	Greek “apo” = off + “phyllon" = leaf	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Kaolinite	Source at Kaoling, a Chinese mountain	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Serpentine	English “serpent”	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Pyrophyllite	Greek “pyr” = fire + “phyllon” = leaf	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Talc	Arabic “talq” = mica	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Muscovite	English “Muscovy glass,” from use as glass in Russia	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Phlogopite	Greek “phlogopos” = fiery-looking	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Biotite	J. B. Biot (1774-1862), physicist, etc.	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Lepidolite	Greek “lepidos” = scale	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Chlorite	Greek “chloros” = green	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Tremolite	Source at Val Tremolo, Swiss Alps	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Actinolite	Greek “aktinos” = ray	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Hornblende	German “horn” = horn-colored + “blenden” = to deceive	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Pargasite	Source at Pargas, Finland	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Glaucophane	Greek “glaukos” = bluish gray + “phainelein” = to appear	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Riebeckite	Emil Riebeck (?-1885), explorer, mineralogist	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Hypersthene	Greek “hyper” = over + “sthenos” = strength	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Diopside	Greek “di” = two + “opisis” = appearance	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Hedenbergite	Ludwig Hedenberg, chemist	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Augite	Greek “augites” = brightness	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Acmite	Greek “akme" = point	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Jadeite	Spanish “piedra de ijada” = stone of the side	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Spodumene	Greek “spodoumenos” = burnt to ash	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Wollastonite	W. H. Wollaston (1766-1828), chemist, mineralogist	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Pectolite	Greek “pektos” = compact	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Rhodonite	Greek “rhodon” = rose	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Babingtonite	William Babington (1757-1833), mineralogist	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Neptunite	Neptunus, Roman sea god	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Chrysocolla	Greek “chrysos” = gold + “kolla" = glue	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Shattuckite	Source at Shattuck Mine, Arizona	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Benitoite	Source at San Benito Co., California	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Axinite	Greek “axine” = ax	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Beryl	Greek “beryllos” = green gemstone	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Cordierite	P. L. A. Cordier (1777-1861), geologist	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Tourmaline	Singhalese “touramalli” = mixed colored stones	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Hemimorphite	Greek “hemi” = half + “morphe” = form	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Lawsonite	Professor Andrew C. Lawson (1861-1952)	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Pumpellyite	Raphael Pumpelly (1837-1923), geologist	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Vesuvianite	Source at Mt. Vesuvias, Italy	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Zoisite	Baron S. Zois van Edelstein (1747-1819)	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Clinozoisite	Greek “klinein” = to incline + English “zoisite”	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Epidote	Greek “epi” = over + “didonai” = to give	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Olivine	Olive-green color	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Tephroite	Greek “tephros” = ash-colored	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Phenakite	Greek “phenakos” = to deceive	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Willemite	Willem I (1772-1843), king of the Netherlands	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Andalusite	Andalusia, a Spanish province	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Sillimanite	Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864), mineralogy professor	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Kyanite	Greek “kyanos” = dark blue	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Topaz	Greek “topazos” = gemstone of lost identity	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Staurolite	Greek “stauros” = cross	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Pyrope Garnet	Greek “pyropos” = fire-eyed	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Almandine Garnet	Albanda, town in ancient Asia Minor	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Spessartine Garnet	Source at Spessart District, Bavaria, Germany	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Grossular Garnet	Latin “grossularia” = gooseberry	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Andradite Garnet	J. B. de Andrada e Silva (1763-1838), geologist	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Uvarovite Garnet	Count S. S. Uvarov (1785-1855), statesman	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Zircon	Persian “zargun” = gold-colored	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Chondrodite	Greek “chondros” = grain	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Titanite	Titanium content	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Dumortierite	Eugene Dumortier, paleontologist	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Prehnite	Colonal van Prehn	Silicates of Complex Structure
Datolite	Greek “dateisthai” = to divide	Silicates of Complex Structure
Inesite	Greek “ines” = fibers	Silicates of Complex Structure

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