i 
22 Derivations of Mineral Names. 
the ancients from the localities whence they were obtained, and this 
practice has been imitated with pious fervor during the last half 
century. 
While the method of commemorating the nameof the place which 
furnished the first specimens of any given species has certain advan- 
tages, philological as well as mnemonic, the nomenclature may 
thereby be rendered somewhat unwieldy, as Nertschinskite, Herren- 
grundite, Guanajuatite, and many others can testify. Similar in 
causal origin, but admixed with a certain spirit of appreciative cour- 
tesy, are those names which are derived from individual patronymics. 
Many scientific men, discoverers of new compounds, friends of 
mineralogists and chemists, and some persons of political rather 
than scientific prominence, have been immortalized by the bestowal 
of their names upon sound mineral species, Convenient and grace- 
ful as this mode of recognizing the services or merits of others may 
be, it is open to the same objections that apply to the use of geo- 
graphical names, in that the burden of carrying words like Macfar- 
lanite, Schwarzembergite, Zepharovitchite, and many others, is nearly as 
depressing as that imposed by the more recent terminology of 
organic chemistry. 
A system of forming names from some physical characteristic is, 
perhaps, not more rational than the preceding ; but it produces less 
bizzarre results, is apt to convey valuable hints, and tends to cause a 
desirable mental association of external features with the word 
designating the species. Thus, Antholite, contr. Gr. dydoc, flower, 
and Ato, stone; Asbolite, der. Gr. a6 20), soot, or Xanthoconite, 
contr. Gr. Savdoc, yellow, and xovec, dust, furnish a brief descrip- 
tion of certain leading, immediately apparent individualities of the 
minerals. Other properties, which may not be patent at first sight, 
give rise to names like Graphite, der. Gr. ypagw, I write; Helio- 
trope, contr. Gr. ýàoç, sun, and tpezw, I turn, the name given 
by Pliny to a variegated jasper, as he found that its red blotches 
and bands seemed to increase in size and brilliancy when held under 
water, in the rays of the sun. ! 
A concise review of the most prominent physical attributes of 
minerals show the following to have influenced the formation of 
mineral names in a marked degree: 
1“ Causa nominis, quoniam delecta in vas aque fulgorem solis acci- 
dentem percussa sanguineo mutat.” Pliny, a.p. 70. Venice, 1557. 
