Search the Dictionary

A common name of the yellowish green mineral chrysolite, esp. the variety found in eruptive rocks.

science or branch of knowledge. He had a smattering of mechanics, of physiology, geology, mineralogy, and all other ologies whatsoever. De Quincey.

A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity.

A reflection of a milky or pearly light from the interior of a mineral, as in the moonstone; the state or quality of being opalescent.

An orange-yellow variety of the mineral thorite, found in Norway.

Usually the ores contain the metals combined with oxygen, sulphur, arsenic, etc. (called mineralizers).

ially as an amorphous lemonyellow powder, and occurring naturally as a yellow crystalline mineral; -- formerly called auripigment. It is used in king's yellow, in white Indian fire, and in certain technical processes, as indigo printing. Our orpiment and sublimed mercurie. Chaucer. Red orpiment, realgar; the red sulphi…

Mineralogy. [Obs.] -- Or`yc*tog*nos"tic, a. -- Or`yc*tog*nos"tic*al, a. [Obs.] -- Or`yc*tog*nos"tic*al*ly, adv. [Obs.]

An old name for mineralogy and geology.

The organic basis of bone tissue; the residue after removal of the mineral matters from bone by dilute acid; in embryonic tissue, the substance in which the mineral salts are deposited to form bone; -- called also ostein. Chemically it is the same as collagen.

Changed to bone or something resembling bone; hardened by deposits of mineral matter of any kind; -- said of tissues.

A micaceous mineral occurring in small scales. It is characteristic of certain crystalline schists.

A yellow mineral consisting of oxalate of iron.

bond, etc., as when a defendant in court prays oyer of a writing. Blackstone. Oyer and terminer (Law), a term used in England in commissions directed to judges of assize about to hold court, directing them to hear and determine cases brought before them. In the U.S. the phrase is used to designate certain criminal cour…

A waxlike mineral resin; -- sometimes called native paraffin, and mineral wax.

goddess of wisdom, called also Athene, and identified, at a later period, with the Roman Minerva.

The science which treats of minerals with special reference to their origin.

The change of one mineral species to another, so as to involve a change in physical characters without alteration of chemical composition.

Lamellar separation in a crystallized mineral, due to some other cause than cleavage, as to the presence of twinning lamellæ.

The mineral substance in which other minerals are imbedded. Paste eel (Zoöl.), the vinegar eel. See under Vinegar.