|
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 |