mineral

mineral
/min"euhr euhl, min"reuhl/, n.
1. any of a class of substances occurring in nature, usually comprising inorganic substances, as quartz or feldspar, of definite chemical composition and usually of definite crystal structure, but sometimes also including rocks formed by these substances as well as certain natural products of organic origin, as asphalt or coal.
2. a substance obtained by mining, as ore.
3. (loosely) any substance that is neither animal nor vegetable.
4. minerals, Brit. See mineral water.
5. Nutrition. any of the inorganic elements, as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, or sodium, that are essential to the functioning of the human body and are obtained from foods.
adj.
6. of the nature of a mineral; pertaining to a mineral or minerals.
7. containing or impregnated with a mineral or minerals.
8. neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic: mineral matter.
[1375-1425; late ME < MF, OF mineral < ML minerale (n.), mineralis (adj.), equiv. to miner(a) mine, ore ( < OF miniere < VL *minaria; min- (see MINE2) + L -aria -ARY) + -ale, -alis -AL1]

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I
Any naturally occurring homogeneous solid that has a definite (but not fixed) chemical composition and a distinctive internal crystal structure.

Minerals are usually formed by inorganic processes. Synthetic equivalents of various minerals, such as emeralds and diamonds, are manufactured for commercial purposes. Although most minerals are chemical compounds, a small number (e.g., sulfur, copper, gold) are elements. Minerals combine with each other to form rocks. For example, granite consists of the minerals feldspar, quartz, mica, and amphibole in varying amounts. Rocks are generally, therefore, an intergrowth of various minerals.
II
(as used in expressions)
sulphide mineral

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      county, west-central Nevada, U.S., on the California border (southwest). It consists mostly of arid mountains (including the Wassuk Range and the Excelsior Mountains) and valleys, but Walker Lake lies in the west-central part of the county and part of Toiyabe National Forest in the south. The large Walker River Indian Reservation is in the northwest. The county was formed in 1911, and the county seat is Hawthorne.

      The economy depends on gold and silver mining and various military- and government-related activities. Area 3,757 square miles (9,730 square km). Pop. (2000) 5,071; (2007 est.) 4,706.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • minéral — minéral, ale, aux [ mineral, o ] adj. et n. m. • 1478; lat. médiév. mineralis I ♦ Adj. 1 ♦ Relatif aux corps constitués de matière inorganique. Le règne minéral et le règne végétal. Chimie minérale (opposé à chimie organique). 2 ♦ Constitué de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Mineral — Min er*al, a. 1. Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or of minerals; as, a mineral substance. [1913 Webster] 2. Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters. [1913 Webster] {Mineral acids} (Chem.), inorganic acids, as sulphuric …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mineral — MINERÁL, Ă, minerali, e, s.n., adj. 1. s.n. Corp solid, cu o anumită compoziţie chimică, care se găseşte în natură în stare cristalină sau amorfă, în componenţa rocilor şi a minereurilor. 2. adj. Care conţine minerale (1), care ţine de minerale,… …   Dicționar Român

  • mineral — (De minero). 1. adj. Perteneciente o relativo al numeroso grupo de las sustancias inorgánicas o a alguna de sus partes. Reino mineral. [m6]Sustancias minerales. 2. m. Sustancia inorgánica que se halla en la superficie o en las diversas capas de… …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • Mineral — Mineral, CA U.S. Census Designated Place in California Population (2000): 143 Housing Units (2000): 450 Land area (2000): 44.478574 sq. miles (115.198972 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.019981 sq. miles (0.051751 sq. km) Total area (2000): 44.498555 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Mineral — Жанр мидвест эмо, инди рок Годы 1994 1998 Страна …   Википедия

  • Mineral — Sn erw. fach. (16. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ml. (aes) minerale Erzgestein , einer Ableitung von ml. minarium n. Grubenerz, Erzgrube , das wohl als galloromanisch auf ein keltisches Wort zurückgeht (Mine). Adjektiv: mineralisch; Abstraktum:… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • mineral — adjetivo 1. Que pertenece al grupo de las sustancias inorgánicas o alguna de sus partes: sustancias minerales. agua* mineral. carbón* mineral o carbón de piedra. sustantivo masculino 1. Sustancia inorgánica de estructura homogénea, compuesta por… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • mineral — [min′ər əl, min′rəl] n. [OFr < ML minerale, neut. of mineralis, mineral < minera, ore < VL * mina,MINE2] 1. an inorganic substance occurring naturally in the earth and having a consistent and distinctive set of physical properties (e.g …   English World dictionary

  • Mineral — Mineral, ein fester oder flüssiger, einheitlicher, d.h. nach seinen chemischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften in jedem Teilchen gleichmäßiger Naturkörper von einer bestimmten, in einer Formel ausdrückbaren chemischen Zusammensetzung. Künstliche …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • mineral — UK US /ˈmɪnərəl/ noun [C] ► NATURAL RESOURCES a valuable or useful chemical substance that is formed naturally in the ground: »The country is rich in minerals and oil. »rare/precious minerals »mineral deposits ► a chemical that your body needs to …   Financial and business terms

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