A New Mincralogicai Nomenclature. By James D . 

 Dana, A.M. ( Corresponding Member.) 



Read March, 1836. . 



The chief obstacles to the introduction of a systematic 

 method of naming the mineral species, have gradually been 

 removed during the rapid progress which the science of min- 

 eralogy has of late years experienced. The difficulties have 

 been still farther diminished by the important aid which 

 Chemistry has rendered to mineralogical science, and also by 

 the introduction of a natural classification of minerals, for 

 which we are indebted to that deservedly distinguished Ger- 

 man mineralogist, Mohs. In this arrangement, M. Mohs has 

 not wholly relied upon chemical characters ; the exclusive 

 adoption of which would have degraded mineralogy from the 

 rank of an independent science, and merged it in that of 

 chemistry : nor has he depended on physical characters solely ; 

 for although the latter are more especially employed, the author 

 has throughout been guided to a certain extent by that impor- 

 tant source of physical characters, viz. chemical composition. 

 A cabinet arranged according to the system of Mohs, presents 

 with remarkable clearness, a chain of affinities running through 

 the whole, and connecting all the several parts. The Gases 

 and Liquids, with which the arrangement commences, are follow- 

 ed by the Salts, so disposed as to present an increase in sta- 

 bility, hardness, and lustre, as the eye proceeds onward. Among 

 the Gems, we arrive at the diamond, in which these characters 

 reach their climax. Thence descending in the series, we 

 gradually pass through the Metallic oxyds to the Native metals. 

 In these, the light-coloured species arc followed by the Sulpfai- 

 rets and Arsenids of similar color and lustre, which are suc- 



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