ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mineralogy

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˌmɪnɝˈɑɫədʒi// UK //mˌɪnəɹˈælədʒi// min·er·al·o·gy

n. the scientific study of minerals. This includes looking at how they form, their chemical makeup, and their physical properties.

n. the branch of geology concerned with the study of minerals, including their chemical composition, physical properties, and formation processes.


SIMPLE

She decided to study mineralogy to understand how rocks are formed.

CONTEXTUAL

The museum's mineralogy collection features over five thousand different types of crystals and gemstones.

COMPLEX

Advances in mineralogy have allowed researchers to identify trace elements within ancient meteorites, providing critical evidence for the early chemical evolution of our solar system.

Origin

From New Latin minerālogia, from Medieval Latin minera (“mineral”) + Latin -logia (“study”). By surface analysis, mineral + -logy.

© 2026 English Reference