Mineral MIN'ERAL, n. [Low L. minera, a matrix or vein of metals,
whence mineralia; all from mine.] A body destitute of organization,
and which naturally exists within the earth or at its surface.
Minerals were formerly divided into salts, earths, inflammables and
ores; a division which serves for a general distribution, but a more
scientific arrangement into classes, orders, genera, species, subspecies
and varieties, has been adopted to meet the more precise views of modern
mineralogists. MIN'ERAL, a. Pertaining to minerals; consisting
of fossil substances; as the mineral kingdom. 1. Impregnated with
minerals or fossil matter; as mineral waters; a mineral spring.
mineral
adj 1: relating to minerals; "mineral elements"; "mineral
deposits"
2: composed of matter other than plant or animal; "the inorganic
mineral world"
n 1: solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature
having a definite chemical composition
mineral I. nounEtymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin minerale,
from neuter of mineralisDate: 15th century 1.ore2. an inorganic substance (as in the ash of calcined tissue)
3.obsoletemine4. something neither animal nor
vegetable 5.a. a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound
that results from the inorganic processes of nature; broadly any of
various naturally occurring homogeneous substances (as stone, coal, salt,
sulfur, sand, petroleum, water, or natural gas) obtained usually from the
ground b. a synthetic substance having the chemical composition
and crystalline form and properties of a naturally occurring mineral
6.plural, Britishmineral waterII. adjectiveEtymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin mineralis,
from minera mine, ore, from Old French minere, miniere, from
mineDate: 15th century 1. of or relating to minerals;
alsoinorganic2. impregnated with mineral substances
mineral n. & adj. --n. 1 any of the species into which inorganic substances are classified. 2 a substance obtained by mining. 3 (often in pl.) Brit. an artificial mineral water or other
effervescent drink. --adj. 1 of or containing a mineral or minerals. 2 obtained by mining. Phrases and idioms: mineral oil petroleum or one of its distillation products. mineral
water 1 water found in nature with some dissolved salts present. 2 an artificial imitation of this, esp. soda water. 3 any effervescent non-alcoholic drink. mineral wax a fossil resin, esp.
ozocerite. mineral wool a wool-like substance made from inorganic material, used for packing etc. Etymology: ME f. OF mineral or med.L mineralis f. minera ore f. OF miniere mine
mineral
(minerals)
A mineral is a substance such as tin, salt, or sulphur that is formed naturally in
rocks and in the earth. Minerals are also found in small quantities in food and drink.
N-COUNT
Mineral \Min"er*al\, n. [F. min['e]ral, LL. minerale, fr. minera
mine. See Mine, v. i.]
1. An inorganic species or substance occurring in nature,
having a definite chemical composition and usually a
distinct crystalline form. Rocks, except certain glassy
igneous forms, are either simple minerals or aggregates of
minerals.
2. A mine. [Obs.] --Shak.
3. Anything which is neither animal nor vegetable, as in the
most general classification of things into three kingdoms
(animal, vegetable, and mineral).
Mineral \Min"er*al\, a.
1. Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or
of minerals; as, a mineral substance.
2. Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters.
Mineral acids (Chem.), inorganic acids, as sulphuric,
nitric, phosphoric, hydrochloric, acids, etc., as
distinguished from the organic acids.
Mineral blue, the name usually given to azurite, when
reduced to an impalpable powder for coloring purposes.
Mineral candle, a candle made of paraffine.
Mineral caoutchouc, an elastic mineral pitch, a variety of
bitumen, resembling caoutchouc in elasticity and softness.
See Caoutchouc, and Elaterite.
Mineral chameleon (Chem.) See Chameleon mineral, under
Chameleon.
Mineral charcoal. See under Charcoal.
Mineral cotton. See Mineral wool (below).
Mineral green, a green carbonate of copper; malachite.
Mineral kingdom (Nat. Sci.), that one of the three grand
divisions of nature which embraces all inorganic objects,
as distinguished from plants or animals.
Mineral oil. See Naphtha, and Petroleum.
Mineral paint, a pigment made chiefly of some natural
mineral substance, as red or yellow iron ocher.
Mineral patch. See Bitumen, and Asphalt.
Mineral right, the right of taking minerals from land.
Mineral salt (Chem.), a salt of a mineral acid.
Mineral tallow, a familiar name for hatchettite, from its
fatty or spermaceti-like appearance.
Mineral water. See under Water.
Mineral wax. See Ozocerite.
Mineral wool, a fibrous wool-like material, made by blowing
a powerful jet of air or steam through melted slag. It is
a poor conductor of heat.
Mineral, IL (village, FIPS 49516)
Location: 41.38189 N, 89.83647 W
Population (1990): 250 (106 housing units)
Area: 0.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 61344
Mineral, VA (town, FIPS 52120)
Location: 38.00727 N, 77.90659 W
Population (1990): 471 (202 housing units)
Area: 2.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 23117
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