INTRODUCTION. 3 



are unable to indicate with certainty the particular species to which 

 it belongs. 



. 3. PRINCIPAL HEADS OF MINERALOGY. 



THE development of Mineralogy involves the following 

 general heads: viz. 1. Terminology, 2. Classification, 3. 

 Nomenclature, 4. Characteristic, 5. Description. 



. 4. TERMINOLOGY. 



Terminology consists in an explanation of the natural 

 properties employed in recognizing and describing minerals, 

 and of the language or technical terms used in this expla- 

 nation. 



. 5. CLASSIFICATION. 



Classification settles the idea of the species, and the 

 principles upon which their arrangement depends. 



. 6. NOMENCLATURE. 



Nomenclature furnishes the names and denominations 

 applied to minerals. 



. 7. CHARACTERISTIC. 



% 



The characteristic is confined to certain marks, or differ- 

 ences, arranged systematically, for the purpose of enabling 

 us to distinguish the members of one division, class, or spe- 

 cies from those of another. 



. 8. DESCRIPTION. 



The description of minerals consists in an enumeration 

 of all their natural properties ; and is intended to produce 

 & distinct image of individuals. 



