mineont

An obsolete form of minion1. miner (mi'ner), n. [ mineral Mynors of marbull ston & mony other thinges. Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), l. 1532. 2. In zoöl., an insect that mines: chiefly in composition: as, a leaf- miner. - Miners' inch. See inch1. mineral (min'e-ral), n. and a. [= D. mineraal = G. Sw. Dan. mineral, OF. mine rail les, minerals), prop. neut. of mine ralis, adj. (which, however, occurs much later than the noun), It. Sp. miner a = OF. miniere, a mine, F. mi nière, > G. miner, a mineral, ore), fem. and neut. respectively of an adj. minarius, pertaining to a mine (as a noun, minarius, m., a miner: see miner), equiv. to mina, a mine, most every case a solid body, and, if it has been formed, under suitable conditions, it has, besides its definite chemical composition, a definite molecular structure, which is exhibited externally in its crystalline form and also internally in its cleavage, its behavior with respect to light (optical properties), heat-propagation, electricity, etc. Furthermore, it has other characters, which may belong to it even when amorphous (though sometimes modified by crystallization), as specific gravity, hardne , fracture, te nacity, luster, color, fusibility, etc. A certain variation in physical characters is consistent with the identity of a mineral species, but if the same substance, as calcium carbonate in calcite and in aragonite, occurs in two or more groups of crystals which cannot be referred to the same fundamental form, each is ranked as a distinct spe- cies. A difference in specific gravity and in some other physical characters usually accompanies the difference in crystallization. How great a variation in chemical com- position, as by isomorphous replacement, is consistent with the identity of a single mineral species is a point about which opinion differs: some authors treat the garnets (all of which have the same form and the same general formula) as a group of related species, and others as var i- eties of a single species. Chemical compounds formed in the laboratory or in the arts are not regarded as min- erals; but where such compounds as are already known as occurring in nature are thus formed they are usually called artificial minerals . Much attention has been de- voted of recent years to the artificial reproduction of min- erals, but almost solely as a matter of scientific interest, and as throwing light on the proce es of nature. 2t. A mine. Steevens. His very madne , like some ore Among a mineral of metals base, Shows itself pure. Shak ., Hamlet, iv. 1 26. Shall it not be a wild fig in a wall, Or fired brimstone in a miner all ? IMG:content-0664.png:[graphic] Bp . Hall , Satires, vi. Acidiferous mineral. See acidiferous. - Adipocere mineral. See adipocere. - Ethiops mineralt. See ethiops.-Agaric, bezoar, chameleon, etc., mineral. See the qualifying words. - Altered mineral, one which has undergone more or le chemical change under the proce es of nature. The investigation of the alteration of minerals and of the pseudomorphous minerals (see pseudo morph and pseudomorphism ) thus formed is a prominent branch of mineralogy. - Crystal mineral, sel de prunelle, a mixture of pota ium nitrate and sulphate. - Mineral deposit, any valuable ma of ore. Like ore - deposit, it may be used with reference to any mode of occurrence of ore, whether having the characters of a true, segregated, or gash vein, or of any other form in which ores are found occurring. See ore - deposit. - Torbane Hill mineral. Same as Boghead coal (which see, under coal ). II. a. 1. Having the nature or character of a mineral as defined above; obtained from a mineral or minerals; belonging to the cla of minerals; consisting of minerals: as, a mineral substance; the mineral kingdom. Coal dug from the earth is sometimes called mineral coal , to distinguish it from charcoal , which is artificially prepared by charring wood. The lofty lines abound with endle store Of mineral treasure. Sir R. Black more, Creation, iii. 2. Impregnated with minerals or mineral matter: as, mineral waters; a mineral spring.Mineral acids, a name given to sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids. - Mineral alkali. Same as soda. Mineral black, an impure variety of carbon, of gray black color, sometimes used as a pigment. - Mineral blue. See blue. - Mineral candle. See candle. - Mineral caoutchouc, a variety of bitumen, intermediate between the harder and softer kinds. It sometimes much resembles india-rubber in its softne and elasticity, hence its name. It occurs near Cast let on in Derby shire. Also called elaterite. - Mineral chameleon. See chameleon.- Mineral charcoal. Same as mother - of -coal (which see, under coal ). - Mineral coal. See II., 1, and coal, 2.- Mineral cotton, a fiber formed by allowing a jet of steam to escape through a stream of liquid slag, by which the slag is blown into fine white threads. It is a poor conductor of heat, and is therefore suggested as a covering for steam-boilers and-pipes. ( E. H. Knight.) A variety with short fiber is called mineral wool, and is used as a non-conductor of heat, a deafening for floors of buildings, etc.Mineral flax. See asbestos. - Mineral gray. See gray. - Mineral greens. See green1. - Mineral kingdom, mineral that one of the three grand divisions of natural objects which consists of minerals or inorganic bodies, and of which mineralogy is the science, as distinguished from the vegetable and animal kingdoms. - Mineral oil. Same as kerosene. - Mineral pitch, a solid softish bitumen. See asphaltum, and elastic mineral pitch, under elastic. - Mineral salt, a salt of a mineral acid. - Mineral solution, arsenical liquor, or liquor pota æ arsenitis. - tallow. Same as hatchet tin, 1. - Mineral tar, in mineral., bitumen of the consistency of tar. See maltha and bitu men.- Mineral waters, a name given to certain springwaters so far impregnated with foreign substances as to have a decided taste and a peculiar operation on the physical economy. The ingredients contained in the principal mineral springs of the United States are gases, carbon ates, sulphates, chlorids, oxid of iron, and silica. Mineral waters may in most cases be imitated artificially. - Mineral wax. Same as ozocerite. - Mineral wool. See min eral cotton.- Mineral yellow, a pigment made of oxid and chlorid of lead, obtained by digesting powdered litharge in a solution of common salt, washing, drying, and fusing the product. Also known as Turner's yellow, Montpellier yellow, Ca el yellow, patent yellow. mineral-dre er (mine-ral Boyle.