Mineral Name Origin and Classification

Mineral Name	Name Origin	Class
Acanthite	Greek “akantha” = thorn	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Acmite	Greek “akme" = point	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Actinolite	Greek “aktinos” = ray	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Adamite	Gilbert-Joseph Adam (1795-1881), mineralogist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Albite	Latin “albus” = white	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Almandine Garnet	Albanda, town in ancient Asia Minor	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Amblygonite	Greek “amblygonios” = blunt angle	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Analcime	Greek “an” = not + “alkimos” = strong	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Andalusite	Andalusia, a Spanish province	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Andesine	Source at Andes Mountains	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Andradite Garnet	J. B. de Andrada e Silva (1763-1838), geologist	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Anglesite	Source at Isle of Anglesey, Wales	Sulfates
Anhydrite	Greek, means “without water”	Sulfates
Anorthite	Greek “an” = not + “orthos” = upright	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Antimony	Medieval Latin “antimonium” = stibnite	Native Elements
Apatite	Greek “apate” = deceit	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Apophyllite	Greek “apo” = off + “phyllon" = leaf	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Aragonite	Source at Aragon Province, Spain	Carbonates
Arsenopyrite	Contraction of “arsenical pyrites”	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Augite	Greek “augites” = brightness	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Aurichalcite	Greek “oreichalkon” = copper	Carbonates
Austinite	Austin F. Rogers (1877-1957), mineralogist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Autunite	Source at Autun, Saône-et-Loire, France	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Axinite	Greek “axine” = ax	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Azurite	Azure-blue color	Carbonates
Babingtonite	William Babington (1757-1833), mineralogist	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Barite	Greek “barys” = heavy	Sulfates
Bauxite	Source at Baux, France	Hydroxides
Benitoite	Source at San Benito Co., California	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Beryl	Greek “beryllos” = green gemstone	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Biotite	J. B. Biot (1774-1862), physicist, etc.	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Bismuth	German “wismut” = bismuth	Native Elements
Bismuthanite	Bismuth content	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Bixbyite	Maynard Bixby	Simple Oxides
Borax	Arabic “buraq” = borax or niter	Bornites
Bornite	Ignaz von Born (1742-1791), mineralogist	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Boulangerite	C. L. Boulanger (1810-1849), mining engineer	Sulfosalts
Bournonite	Count J. L. de Bournon (1751-1825), chrystallographer	Sulfosalts
Brochantite	A. T. M. Brochant de Villiers (1731-1840), mineralogist	Sulfates
Brucite	Archibald Bruce (1777-1818), mineralogist	Hydroxides
Bytownite	Source at Bytown, now Ottawa, Canada	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Calaverite	Source at Calavaras Co., California	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Calcite	Greek “chalx” = lime	Carbonates
Carnotite	Marie-Adolfe Carnot (1839-1920), engineer and chemist	Vanadium Oxysalts
Cassiterite	Greek “kassiteros” = tin	Simple Oxides
Celestite	Latin “Caelestis” = of the sky	Sulfates
Cerussite	Latin “cerussa” = ceruse (white lead pigment)	Carbonates
Chabazite	Greek “chabazios” = stones	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Chalcanthite	Greek “chalcos” = copper + “anthos” = flower	Sulfates
Chalcedony	Chalcedon, ancient Greek city	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Chalcocite	Greek “chalcos” = copper	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Chalcopyrite	Greek “chalcos” = copper + “pyrites” = fury	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Chlorargyrite	Chlorine content + Greek “argyros” = silver	Halite
Chlorite	Greek “chloros” = green	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Chondrodite	Greek “chondros” = grain	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Chromite	Chromium content	Multiple Oxides
Chrysoberyl	Greek “chrysos” = yellow + “beryllos” = beryl	Multiple Oxides
Chrysocolla	Greek “chrysos” = gold + “kolla" = glue	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Cinnabar	India?	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Clinozoisite	Greek “klinein” = to incline + English “zoisite”	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Cobaltite	German “Kolbold” = underground spirit	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Colemanite	William T. Coleman, merchant & mine owner	Bornites
Columbite	Columbium (niobium) content	Multiple Oxides
Conichalcite	Greek “konis” = powder + “chalx” = lime	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Cordierite	P. L. A. Cordier (1777-1861), geologist	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Corundum	Tamil “kuruntam” from Sanskrit “kuruvinda” = ruby	Simple Oxides
Covellite	Niccolò Covelli (1790-18290, mineralogist	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Crocoite	Greek “krokos” = saffron	Chromates
Cryolite	Greek “kryos” = frost + “lithos” = stone	Halite
Cuprite	Latin “cuprum” = copper	Simple Oxides
Cyanotrichite	Greek “kyanos” = blue + “thrix” = hair	Sulfates
Danburite	Source at Danbury, Connecticut	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Datolite	Greek “dateisthai” = to divide	Silicates of Complex Structure
Descloizite	Alfred L. O. L. Des Cloizeau (1817-1897), mineralogist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Diopside	Greek “di” = two + “opisis” = appearance	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Dolomite	Deodat de Dolomieu (1750-1801), mineralogist	Carbonates
Dumortierite	Eugene Dumortier, paleontologist	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Enargite	Greek “enargos” = visible	Sulfosalts
Epidote	Greek “epi” = over + “didonai” = to give	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Epsomite	Source at Epsom, England	Sulfates
Erythrite	Greek “erythros” = red	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Fluorite	Latin “fluere” = to flow	Halite
Franklinite	Source at Franklin and Sterling Hill, Sussex Co., NJ	Multiple Oxides
Galena	Latin “galena” = lead ore	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Glauberite	Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604-1668), chemist	Sulfates
Glaucophane	Greek “glaukos” = bluish gray + “phainelein” = to appear	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Goethite	Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), poet, etc.	Hydroxides
Gold	Anglo-Saxon	Native Elements
Graphite	Greek “graphein” = to write	Native Elements
Grossular Garnet	Latin “grossularia” = gooseberry	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Gummite	From ‘gum-like’ properties?	Simple Oxides
Gypsum	Greek “gypsos” = gypsum or plaster	Sulfates
Halite	Greek “hals” = salt	Halite
Hedenbergite	Ludwig Hedenberg, chemist	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Hematite	Greek “haimatites” = bloodlike	Simple Oxides
Hemimorphite	Greek “hemi” = half + “morphe” = form	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Heulandite	Henry Heuland, mineralogist	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Hornblende	German “horn” = horn-colored + “blenden” = to deceive	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Howlite	Henry How (?-1879), chemist	Bornites
Hypersthene	Greek “hyper” = over + “sthenos” = strength	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Ilmenite	Source at Ilman Mts., USSR	Simple Oxides
Inesite	Greek “ines” = fibers	Silicates of Complex Structure
Jadeite	Spanish “piedra de ijada” = stone of the side	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Jamesonite	Robert Jameson (1774-1854)	Sulfosalts
Jarosite	Source at Jaroso Ravine, Sierra Almagrera, Spain	Sulfates
Kaolinite	Source at Kaoling, a Chinese mountain	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Kernite	Source at Kern Co., California	Bornites
Kyanite	Greek “kyanos” = dark blue	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Labradorite	Source at Labrador	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Laumontite	Gillette de Laumont (1747-1834), mineralogist	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Lawsonite	Professor Andrew C. Lawson (1861-1952)	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Lazulite	Old Arabic “lazaward” = heaven	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Lazurite	Arabic “lazaward” = heaven	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Legrandite	Legrand, a Belgian mine manager	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Lepidolite	Greek “lepidos” = scale	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Leucite	Greek “leukois” = white	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Limonite	Greek “leimons” = meadow	Hydroxides
Linarite	Source at Linares, Jaen province, Spain	Sulfates
Magnesite	Magnesium content	Carbonates
Magnetite	Source at Magnesia	Multiple Oxides
Malachite	Greek “moloche” = mallow	Carbonates
Manganite	Manganese content	Hydroxides
Marcasite	Arabic?	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Melanterite	Greek “melanteria” = black metallic pigment	Sulfates
Mesolite	Greek “mesos” = middle + “lithos” = stone	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Millerite	W. H. Miller (1801-1880), mineralogist	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Mimetite	Greek “mimetes” = imitator	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Molybdenite	Greek “molybdos” = lead	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Monazite	Greek “monazein” = to be alone	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Muscovite	English “Muscovy glass,” from use as glass in Russia	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Natrolite	Greek “nitron” = niter + “lithos” = stone	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Nepheline	Greek “nephele” = clouded	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Neptunite	Neptunus, Roman sea god	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Nickeline	Latin “nicolum” = nickel	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Oligoclase	Greek “oligos” = little + “klasis” = fracture	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Olivenite	German “olivenerz” = olive ore	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Olivine	Olive-green color	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Opal	Sanskrit “upala” = precious stone	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Orpiment	Latin “auripigmentum” = “gold pigment”	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Orthoclase	Greek “orthos” = upright + “klasis” = fracture	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Pargasite	Source at Pargas, Finland	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Pectolite	Greek “pektos” = compact	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Pentlandite	J. B. Pentland (? – 1873), scientist	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Phenakite	Greek “phenakos” = to deceive	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Phlogopite	Greek “phlogopos” = fiery-looking	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Platinum	Spanish “plata”= silver	Native Elements
Prehnite	Colonal van Prehn	Silicates of Complex Structure
Proustite	Joseph Louis Proust (1754-1826), chemist	Sulfosalts
Psilomelane	Greek “psilos” = smooth + “melas” = black	Hydroxides
Pumpellyite	Raphael Pumpelly (1837-1923), geologist	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Pyrargyrite	Greek “pyr” = fire + “argyros” = silver	Sulfosalts
Pyrite	Greek “pyr” = fire	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Pyrolusite	Greek “pyr” = fire + “louien” = to wash	Simple Oxides
Pyromorphite	Greek “pyr” = fire + “morphe” = form	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Pyrope Garnet	Greek “pyropos” = fire-eyed	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Pyrophyllite	Greek “pyr” = fire + “phyllon” = leaf	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Pyrrhotite	Greek “pyrrhotes” = redness	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Quartz	German “quarz”	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Realgar	Arabic “rahj al-ghar” = “powder of the mine”	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Rhodochrosite	Greek “rhodon” = rose + “chros” = color	Carbonates
Rhodonite