Mineralogy Vocabulary

noun a powdery substance consisting of the oxide of a metal, obtained by heating the metal in air or oxygen

• The chemist analyzed the calx residue left in the crucible.
• I accidentally spilled some calx powder on the lab table.
• Hey, can you pass me that calx stuff over there?
• The calx of his past mistakes still haunted him in his dreams.

noun a layer or mass of a mineral or other substance found in a rock or other geological formation

verb to put or set down a sum of money in a bank account or other fund

• The bank requires a deposit of at least $100 to open a savings account.
• You'll need to put down a deposit if you want to reserve the venue for your party.
• I had to drop a deposit on those concert tickets before they sold out.
• His kindness towards others is like a deposit in the bank of goodwill.

noun a naturally magnetized mineral, often a form of magnetite, that attracts iron and other metals

• The lodestone is a naturally occurring mineral that attracts iron and other ferromagnetic materials.
• I found a cool lodestone while hiking in the mountains.
• That lodestone is like a magnet for good luck.
• Her smile was like a lodestone, drawing everyone towards her.

noun a mark or spot of a different color or shade from the surrounding area

verb to mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades

• The leaves of the plant were mottled with brown spots.
• The cat had a mottled fur coat with patches of different colors.
• His face was mottled with embarrassment after tripping in front of everyone.
• The artist used different shades of paint to mottle the canvas and create a unique texture.

adjective of the color of verdigris; greenish-blue

• The aeruginous patina on the statue gave it an antique look.
• I found an old aeruginous coin while metal detecting at the park.
• Check out that cool aeruginous car parked outside!
• The artist used an aeruginous color palette to evoke a sense of nostalgia in the painting.

noun a shape or form resembling that of an agate

adjective resembling or shaped like an agate

• The agatiform crystal displayed intricate geometric patterns.
• I found a cool agatiform rock on the beach.
• Check out this sick agatiform piece I just scored!
• Her mind was like an agatiform gem, multifaceted and beautiful.