24 Derivations of Mineral Names. 
name. Stercorite, der. L. stercus, manure; Arseniosiderite, contr. 
Gr. doGevexov, arsenic, and 6:9ypos, iron, and many others, con- 
vey useful information as to component parts. Every now and 
then the investigator finds himself somewhat baffled by the consti- 
tution of the mineral, or he obtains unforeseen results. Norden- 
skidld met a case of this kind by coining the name Thaumasite, der. 
Gr. avpaçw, I am surprised ; and Ekeberg by forming Automolite, 
der. Gr. aòtopołoç, deserter, in allusion to the fact that his speci- 
men had deserted other species to which its composition was sup- 
posed to be allied. Æschynite, der. Gr. 2%6yvvy, shame, records 
Berzelius’ protest against the inability of chemical science of that 
day (1828) to separate zirconic and titanic oxides. Peculiarities in 
chemical behaviour also find expression in the name: Tuchhydrite, 
contr. Gr. tayuc, quickly, and 5dw¢, water, refers to the rapid 
deliquescence of the substance upon exposure to the air. 
In some instances both physical and chemical properties which 
are especially noticeable, may be indicated by the name: Sideros- 
chisolite, contr. Gr. Gednpo0¢, iron, 6760s, split, and Xoc, stone, 
is the name of a ferric silicate with perfect cleavage ; Chaleophyllite, 
contr. Gr. yadxoc, copper, and guddoy, leaf, alludes to the foliated 
structure of a cupriferous mineral. 
The Greek language, singularly flexible and rich in clear defini- 
tions, has furnished the majority of descriptive mineral names ; 
Latin has been used more sparingly. Examples are not wanting 
where Greek and Latin have been combined in the same word, 
although this practice is to be deprecated: Pyraurite, contr. Gr. 
up, fire, and L. aurum, gold (“ molten gold ”); Cupraphrite, contr- 
L. cuprum, copper, and Gr. ’agpog, foam, is a literal rendition of 
the prior G. Kupferschawm. Languages of our own day have like- 
wise yielded their quota to the list of mineral names: Muromontite, 
contr. L. murus, wall, and mons, mountain, is the Latinized form of 
G. Mauersberg, where the mineral was found ; Leucopetrite, contr. 
Gr. jevxoc, white, and zerpa, cliff, translates the G. Weissenfels. 
The G. Olivenerz of Werner, 1789, has become Olivenite, on 
account of its color (G. Olivin), and the popular term of Carmine- 
spar has evolved into Carminite. 
The successful attainment of uniformity in mineralogical nomen- 
clature is largely due to the rigid stand taken by Professor James 
D. Dana, the eminent American mineralogist. But a few centuries 
since, all matters pertaining to chemistry and mineralogy were in the 
