mineralogy

American  

[min-uh-rol-uh-jee, -ral-uh-] / ˌmɪn əˈrɒl ə dʒi, -ˈræl ə- /

noun

1. the science or study of minerals.

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mineralogy British  

/ ˌmɪnəˈrælədʒɪ, ˌmɪnərəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the branch of geology concerned with the study of minerals

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mineralogy Scientific  

/ mĭn′ə-rŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of minerals, their composition and properties, and the places where they are likely to occur.

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Other Word Forms

• mineralogic adjective
• mineralogical adjective
• mineralogically adverb
• mineralogist noun
• nonmineralogical adjective
• nonmineralogically adverb

Etymology

Origin of mineralogy

First recorded in 1680–90; minera(l) + -logy

Example Sentences

“They are very complex ores with highly unusual mineralogy, and some of them have relatively high contents of the radioactive elements uranium and thorium,” Goodenough notes.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

“Of all the copper that exists in the ground globally, 70% of those resources are comprised of primary sulfides, this mineralogy that we’re looking to unlock,” said Nuton chief executive Adam Burley.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

The team also examined sediment structures, mineralogy, diatoms and geochemistry to characterize the depositional record.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

Because its present-day chemistry and mineralogy are virtually unchanged since forming some 4.5 billion years ago, it holds valuable clues to the origins and development of rocky planets such as Earth.

From Reuters • Sep. 24, 2023

In the tradition of the day, Hutton took an interest in nearly everything, from mineralogy to metaphysics.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson