Mineralogy
mineralogy
(Latin: mino, a mine; Greek: logia, science)
The science which treats of minerals. It includes:
crystallography, the science of crystals
chemical mineralogy, which is concerned with the chemieal properties of minerals
descriptive mineralogy which treats of the classification, description, and distribution of minerals
determinative mineralogy which deals with the various methods, e.g., chemical or crystallographic, of distinguishing species
economic mineralogy, the subject matter of which is the use of minerals as in jewelry
Among the notable contributors to the science are the following:
CATHOLICS
Agricola, Georg Bauer
Fuchs, Johann Nepomuk von
Hay, Rene Juste
Mallard, Ernest Franois
Schafhatl, Karl Frederich von
OTHER CHRISTIAN MINERALOGISTS
Brewster, David
Dechen, Ernst Heinrich Karl van
Hausmann, Johann Friedrich Ludwig
Rath, Gerhard von
New Catholic Dictionary
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Mineralogy
This science, like all others of modern date, was in a very imperfect state among the Hebrews. Hence the sacred writers speak of minerals without any scientific classification, and according to their merely external characteristics. This occasions the utmost difficulty in identifying any but the commonest mineral substances. In precious stones, particularly, this vagueness of name and description precludes the possibility of any certainty as to the actual mineral intended, or, rather, leads to the presumption that in most instances no one substance is denoted, but that the name is generic, including all stones of the same general appearance, color, hardness, etc. SEE GEM. The following is a list of the mineral productions mentioned in the Bible, with their probable modern representatives. For details, see each word in its place.
AchlamahAmethystamethyst.
AstroAlabasteralabaster.
AmethustosAmethystamethyst.
ArgurosSilversilver.
Bahat.Marblered marble.
BarekethEmerald?carbuncle.
BarzelIroniron.
BeddAlloy?tin
BedolachBdelliumbdellium.
BerullosBerylberyl.
BetserOregold.
Bor, Borith}Alkalisoap, et
ChalkedonChalcedonychalcedony.
ChalkolibdnonElectrumfine brass.
ChalkosCopperbrass.
ChallamishFlintflint, etc.
ChashmaalBurnished Copper amber.
ChemarBitumenslime.
CholSandsand.
ChrusolethosChrysolitechrysolite.
ChrusoprasosChrysoprasechrysoprase.
ChrusosGoldgold.
DarPearl-stonewhite marble.
EkdachCarbunclecarbuncle.
GabishCrystalpearl.
GirLimechalk.
GophrthSulphurbrimstone.
HalsSaltsalt.
HuakinthosHyacinthjacinth.
HuilosGlassglass.
JaspisJasperjasper.
KadkodRubyagate.
KerachCrystalcrystal.
KesephSilversilver.
Kethem,Virgin Goldgold.
KrustallosCrystalcrystal.
LeshemOpal?ligure.
MargaritesPearlpearl.
MarnurosMarblemarble.
MelachSaltsalt.
Nechash, NechoshethCopperbrass.
NetherNitrenitre.’
NophekEmerald?emerald.
O’demGarnetsardius.
OpherethLeadlead.
PaldahSteeltorch.
PazRefined Goldfine gold.
PitdahTopaz?topaz.
PukAntimonypaint.
Sappheiros,sapphiresapphire.
Sardinossapphiresardius.
SardiosCarneliansardine.
SardonuxSardonyxSardonyx.
ShaishAlabastermarble.
ShamirDiamonddiamond, etc.
ShasherRed Ochrevermilion.
SheboAgate?agate.
SheshWhite Marblemarble.
ShohamOnyx?onyx.
SidrosIroniron.
SigScoriae, etcdross.
SmaragdosEmeraldemerald.
SocherethSpotted Marbleblack marble.
TarshishTopaz?bervl.
TheionBrimstonebrimstone.
Topazion.Topaztopaz.
TsarNoduleflint.
Yahalon.Onyx?diamond.
YashephethJasperjasper.
ZahabGoldgold.
ZekukethGlasscrystal.
See Rosenmuller, Biblical Mineralogy and Botany (Edinb. 1846, 12mo); Moore, Ancient Mineralogy (N.Y. 1834, 12mo).