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	Greek “rhodon” = rose	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Riebeckite	Emil Riebeck (?-1885), explorer, mineralogist	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Rutile	Latin “rutilus” = reddish	Simple Oxides
Scapolite	Greek “scapos” = shaft	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Scheelite	Karl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786), chemist	Molybdates and Tungstates
Serpentine	English “serpent”	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Shattuckite	Source at Shattuck Mine, Arizona	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Siderite	Greek “sideros” = iron	Carbonates
Sillimanite	Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864), mineralogy professor	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Silver	Anglo-Saxon	Native Elements
Skutterudite	Source at Skutterud, Norway	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Smithsonite	James Smithson (1765-1829), philanthropist	Carbonates
Sodalite	Sodium content	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Spessartine Garnet	Source at Spessart District, Bavaria, Germany	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Sphalerite	Greek “sphaleros” = treacherous	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Spinel	Latin “spina” = thorn	Multiple Oxides
Spodumene	Greek “spodoumenos” = burnt to ash	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Staurolite	Greek “stauros” = cross	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Stephanite	Archduke Stephen (?-1867), Mining Director	Sulfosalts
Stibnite	Greek “stibi” = antimony	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Stilbite	Greek “stilbein” = to glitter	Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
Strontianite	Source at Strontian, Argyll, Scotland	Carbonates
Sulfur	Latin “sulfur” = sulfur	Native Elements
Sylvanite	Source at Transylvania	Sulfides, Arsenides, and Tellurides
Talc	Arabic “talq” = mica	Phyllodilicates (Sheet Silicates)
Tantalite	Tantalum content	Multiple Oxides
Tephroite	Greek “tephros” = ash-colored	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Tetrahedrite	English “tetrahedron”	Sulfosalts
Thenardite	Louis Thenard (1777-1857), chemist	Sulfates
Titanite	Titanium content	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Topaz	Greek “topazos” = gemstone of lost identity	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Torbernite	Torbern Bergmann (1735-1784), chemist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Tourmaline	Singhalese “touramalli” = mixed colored stones	Cyclosilicates (Ring Silicates)
Tremolite	Source at Val Tremolo, Swiss Alps	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Triphylite	Greek “tri” = three + “phylon” = tribe	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Turquoise	French “turquoise” = Turkish	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Ulexite	Georg Ludwig Ulex (1811-1883), chemist	Bornites
Uraninite	Uranium content	Simple Oxides
Uvarovite Garnet	Count S. S. Uvarov (1785-1855), statesman	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Vanadinite	Vanadium content	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Variscite	Source at Variscia, Germany	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Vesuvianite	Source at Mt. Vesuvias, Italy	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)
Vivianite	J. G. Vivian, mineralogist	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Wavellite	William Wavell (?-1829), physician	Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates
Willemite	Willem I (1772-1843), king of the Netherlands	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Witherite	W. Withering (1741-1799), mineralogist	Carbonates
Wolframite	“volf” = wolf + “rahm” = cream	Molybdates and Tungstates
Wollastonite	W. H. Wollaston (1766-1828), chemist, mineralogist	Inosilicates (Chain Silicates)
Wulfenite	Franz Xaver von Wulfen (1728-1805), mineralogist	Molybdates and Tungstates
Zincite	Zinc content	Simple Oxides
Zircon	Persian “zargun” = gold-colored	Neosilicates (Independent Tetrahedral Silicates)
Zoisite	Baron S. Zois van Edelstein (1747-1819)	Sorosilicates (Double Tetrahedral Silicates)

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