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Minerals are all around us, from the rocks that make up the Earth's crust to the gemstones that adorn our bodies and homes. But have you ever wondered how these minerals got their unique and often intriguing names? The practice of naming minerals dates back centuries and has evolved alongside the field of mineralogy itself. Over time, naming minerals has become more formalised and scientific. Yet, even today, many mineral names have fascinating origins that reflect the cultural and natural contexts in which they were discovered. In this blog post, we will explore the fascinating world of mineralogy and uncover the intriguing stories behind mineral names.
A Brief History Of Mineral Names
When it comes to mineral naming conventions, it is essential to understand that the process has come a long way throughout history. The term "mineral" wasn't even a part of the lexicon until around 400 years ago, when Georg Bauer's "On the Nature of Metals" and "On the Nature of Fossils" were published. At that time, minerals were classified as metals or fossils, reflecting their limited understanding of nature.
As scientists began to understand the fundamental differences between minerals and organic life on Earth in the late 1600s and 1700s, they started to classify minerals within the existing Natural History system developed by Carlos Linnaeus. However, it soon became apparent that minerals needed to fit neatly within this system, as insufficient chemical information was available to classify them accurately. Instead, scientists turned to physical properties to organise minerals into groups, and by the early 1800s, guiding principles for naming minerals were established.
Despite this progress, the International Commission on Naming Minerals wasn't formed until 1959, highlighting the importance of having a transparent and standardised system for naming minerals.
The Origins Of Mineral Names
The naming of minerals is a fascinating subject that often evokes heated debates among people. Many of their names have been passed down from antiquity, and their meanings have been lost or changed over the centuries. However, the process of naming minerals was never a precise practice. Thus, the International Mineralogical Association's commission on new minerals and mineral names has clarified the process.
Nomenclature
Naming a new mineral involves submitting a proposal to the International Mineralogical Association’s Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Crystallography. It must contain comprehensive information about the substance, including its crystallography, chemistry, and geological context. Furthermore, the proposal must also suggest a name for the mineral, which is then carefully evaluated by a panel of mineralogists. The name must be unique, not already used, and easy to pronounce and remember.
Once a new mineral is named and recognised by the mineralogical community, it becomes a part of the official list of minerals. However, the discovery is not a new mineral but rather a variety of an existing mineral or a combination of several minerals forming a rock. In that case, it is up to the miner or the person promoting the material for sale to create a unique and memorable name. Sometimes, the names stick, and the more well-known the material, the higher its value. For example, wide varieties of Agates and Jaspers are essentially the same material but differ in colour, pattern, and value. Giving them individual or "trade" names helps to distinguish them from one another and increases their market appeal.
Trade Names
It's no secret that marketing plays a significant role in commerce, including the mineral industry. It's increasingly common for minerals to have "trade names." This practice involves naming rocks and minerals using a more marketable, appealing, or romantic title. For example, the Sugilite mineral is now popularly called Royal Lavulite, a trade name used to make it sound more luxurious.
But it's not just about marketing - giving minerals trade names also serves various purposes. For instance, it can help identify a specific variety of a mineral, like Rubelite, a pink Tourmaline, or Emerald, a green beryl. In some cases, the name can also distinguish the high-grade variety of the material from the more common and less expensive option, such as Imperial Jade (high-grade jade) or Tsavorite (green garnet).
In some cases, a rock is built from various minerals, as in the "Sonora Sunset" case, discovered in Mexico, which comprises Chrysocolla, Cuprite, Chalcotricite, and other copper ores. The name captures the hues of the sunset that are visible when the rock is cut. However, it is also referred to by competing names, such as Sonora Sunrise, Crimson Cuprite and Sangria de Toro, which needs to be clarified for buyers and collectors alike.
Inspired By People
The first-ever mineral named after a person is Prehnite. It was named after Colonel Hendrik Von Prehn, who discovered it in the Cape Province of South Africa in the late 18th century. This practice became widespread as it helped the discoverers to honour the individuals who contributed to the field of mineralogy or geology. Covellite, named after the Italian mineralogist Niccolo Covelli, who first discovered it on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, and Dumortierite, named after the French palaeontologist Eugene Dumortier, are just a few examples of minerals named after their discoverers.
Sometimes, however, the practice becomes questionable when minerals are named after individuals with a connection. For instance, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861) has a mineral named in his honour, even though he had little to do with discovering or studying minerals. Similarly, politicians and public figures have also been honoured in this way. Nonetheless, the practice stands as a way of acknowledging and immortalising people who have contributed to the field of geology and mineralogy in one way or another.
Geographic Location
Naming a mineral after the location where it was found is a common practice in the world of mineralogy. However, this can get complicated when the rock isn't a member of the agate or jasper family. For instance, it's easy to name a specific agate or jasper found in a particular location, such as Willow Creek Jasper, Biggs Jasper, or Brazilian Agate. But the process gets more complex regarding rocks like Labradorite or Shattuckite.
Labradorite, for example, was named for the location where it was first found near Labrador, Canada. However, nowadays, most Labradorite on the market comes from Madagascar. Similarly, Shattuckite was named for the Shattuck mine in Bisbee, Arizona, where it was first discovered. However, most of the material comes from the Congo in Africa, which has caused controversy.
Mythological Figures
Humans have been fascinated by the natural world since ancient times and used their imaginations to create stories and myths to explain natural phenomena. So, it's unsurprising that many minerals were named after mythological figures.
For example, Aegerine, a sodium iron silicate, was named after Ægir, the ancient Norse god of the sea. This mineral's black and shiny appearance was reminiscent of the deep, dark waters of the Scandinavian sea. Neptunite, a complex multimetal silicate, was named after Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, for similar reasons. The crystal's deep black colour and shiny lustre reminded people of the vast, mysterious depths of the ocean.
According to legend, the gods transformed a nymph named Prys into a leek, which turned golden after being struck by a lightning bolt, thus the name Pyrite. The mineral Agate, on the other hand, is named after the river Achates in Sicily. In ancient times, the stone was believed to come from the river itself, and its swirling bands and colours were thought to represent the river's various moods and currents.
Chemical Composition
One of the most common ways minerals receive their names is from their chemical composition. This means the minerals are identified and named after the elements that make them up. For example, Copper Carbonate is a mineral made up of copper, carbon, and oxygen. It is thus named after those three elements with the ending "-ate" added to indicate that it is a salt. Similarly, Iron Sulfide is a mineral that is made up of iron and sulfur. The "-ide" ending shows that it is a binary compound or compound comprising only two elements.
Naming minerals after their chemical composition is a valuable tool for scientists, as it allows them to quickly identify a mineral's composition and properties. Moreover, it helps to ensure clarity, especially for minerals, since each element has a unique name and symbol. For example, Gold is known by the symbol Au, from its Latin name Aurum. This symbol refers to Gold in many scientific contexts, providing an easy-to-understand naming convention across different fields. Using the chemical composition to name minerals is a tried-and-tested method, and it continues to be an essential aspect of mineralogy today.
Linguistic Translation
A mineral's name can be derived from its various characteristics, and in most cases, it involves translating its features into different languages. As a result, some mineral names have undergone centuries of linguistic transition, gradually transforming into the names we recognise today. For example, the word "silver" has an incredibly evolved linguistic history, originating in Lithuania around 500 as "sildabras" before transforming into "silbar" in Old High German and "seolfor" in Old English before finally settling into its current form in Middle English around 1200.
The translation of mineral names can take different routes, with some names directly translating their characteristics while others are translated through descriptive phrases. For instance, Cinnabar, a bright red mineral, is derived from Ancient Greek and translates to "dragon's blood." This name was chosen because of its bright red colour, similar to a dragon's blood. Similarly, Sphalerite, a mineral with a metallic appearance, comes from the Greek word "sphaleros," which means "deceptive." The name accurately translates the mineral's visual characteristics, as its metallic appearance can easily deceive one into thinking it is a valuable metal like silver or gold.
Physical Properties
Minerals come in all shapes, sizes, and colours. Some minerals are named based on specific colouring or patterns, such as Malachite, which is named for its deep green hue reminiscent of the leaves on the edge of an avocado. Azurite was named after its deep blue colour, which comes from the Arabic word for blue, while Kyanite derives its name from the Greek word kyanos, which also means blue. Equally, Beryl derives from the Greek 'beryllos', which means 'precious blue-green colour of seawater', which is highly appropriate since Beryl is often in shades of blue and green.
Some minerals may also be named after specific shapes or structures, such as Cubic Zirconia, which is named for its cubical shape. Other physical properties that influence mineral names include the way the mineral reacts to light, sounds, and forces. For example, Pyrite, also known as "Fool's Gold," is named for its metallic lustre and resemblance to actual gold. Similarly, the name Mica derives from the Latin term "micare," meaning "to glitter," and is known for its ability to reflect light.
Some minerals may also be named based on their hardness or how they break, the hardest mineral known to humans. It is like Diamond, named after the Greek word adamas, meaning "unbreakable."
Occurrence
Occurrence plays a significant role in the way minerals get their names. Many minerals are named after the place where they were first discovered. For instance, the mineral azurite was first found in mines near Chessy, France, hence its name from the French word "Azur," which means blue. Peridot is named after the French word "peritot," which means unclear because the mineral can look uncertain in colour when seen under different light. Similarly, the mineral Magnesite is named after Magnesia, a place in Greece that is known for its abundance of this mineral.
Final Thoughts On How Mineral Get Their Names
In conclusion, naming minerals is fascinating and intricate and involves many factors. Various elements influence the naming process, from the chemical composition of the mineral to its colour, texture, and location. Take the case of Topaz, for example. Its name is derived from the Sanskrit word for fire, reflecting the mineral’s brilliant colour. Tourmaline, on the other hand, comes from the Sinhalese word for “mixed colours,” which aptly describes the varied hues of this mineral.
The naming of minerals also reflects the cultural and historical context in which they were discovered. For instance, the mineral bornite was named after the American mineralogist Ignaz von Born, who was instrumental in its discovery. Fluorite, conversely, comes from the Latin fluere, meaning “to flow,” a reference to the mineral’s use in iron smelting. Indeed, the process of naming minerals is not only a scientific exercise but also an exercise in language and culture, highlighting the interconnectedness of different fields of knowledge. Ultimately, the names of minerals are labels and reflections of the natural world and the human experience.
Overall, mineral names offer an intriguing insight into the history and geology of a given mineral. They also serve as a reminder of the incredible diversity of the earth and the fascinating mineralogy beneath the surface. From their physical properties to their origin and unique colouration, each mineral name tells a fantastic story, making them an essential part of our understanding of the natural world.