mineralogy
pronunciation
How to pronounce mineralogy in British English:
UK [ˌmɪnəˈrælədʒi]
How to pronounce mineralogy in American English:
US [ˌmɪnəˈrɑlədʒi, -ˈræl-]
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- Noun:
- the branch of geology that studies minerals: their structure and properties and the ways of distinguishing them
Word Origin
- mineralogy (n.)
- 1680s, a hybrid from mineral (n.) + -logy or else from French minéralogie (1640s). Related: Mineralogist; mineralogical.
Example
- 1. Knowing which minerals form at different stages of a planet 's evolution , and which depend upon life to be present , are crucial to understanding the mineralogy of other planets and moons .
- 2. All three rovers did spectacular science as well , studying the mineralogy and topography of mars in astonishing detail , and establishing beyond a doubt that water once flowed and pooled on the planet 's surface .
- 3. The arm will deposit bits of martian soil into the analytical instruments on the rover 's body , which are known as sam ( sample analysis at mars ) and chemin ( short for chemistry & mineralogy ) .