Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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).
\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.