Min'er-āl'o-gy, n.

n. [Fr. minéralogie, It. & Sp. mineralogia, from minéral, mineral, minerale, and Gr. λόγος, discourse.] The science which treats of the properties of mineral substances, and teaches us to characterize, distinguish, and classify them according to their properties. It comprehends the study or science of all inorganic substances in the earth or on its surface.