Mineral
/ˈmɪnərəl/noun
A naturally occurring inorganic substance, such as quartz or gold, with a definite chemical composition and structure.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin for a mine, so “mineral” began life as a thing belonging to the underground world of excavation, not a scientific category.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
mineralis
“pertaining to mines or minerals”
Latin
Latin
mina
“a mine or subterranean passage”
Late Latin
Latin
minarius
“of mines or mining”
Old French
French
mineral
“mineral, ore, or substance from the earth”
14th–15th Century
English
mineral
“a substance obtained from the earth, especially ore or metallic matter”
Modern English
English
mineral
“a naturally occurring inorganic substance with a crystalline structure”