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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Mineral \Min"er*al\, n. [F. min['e]ral, LL. minerale, fr. minera
mine. See {Mine}, v. i.]
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1. An inorganic species or substance occurring in nature,
having a definite chemical composition and usually a
distinct crystalline form. Rocks, except certain glassy
igneous forms, are either simple minerals or aggregates of
minerals.
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2. A mine. [Obs.] --Shak.
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3. Anything which is neither animal nor vegetable, as in the
most general classification of things into three kingdoms
(animal, vegetable, and mineral).
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Mineral \Min"er*al\, a.
1. Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or
of minerals; as, a mineral substance.
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2. Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters.
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{Mineral acids} (Chem.), inorganic acids, as sulphuric,
nitric, phosphoric, hydrochloric, acids, etc., as
distinguished from the {organic acids}.

{Mineral blue}, the name usually given to azurite, when
reduced to an impalpable powder for coloring purposes.

{Mineral candle}, a candle made of paraffin.

{Mineral caoutchouc}, an elastic mineral pitch, a variety of
bitumen, resembling caoutchouc in elasticity and softness.
See {Caoutchouc}, and {Elaterite}.

{Mineral chameleon} (Chem.) See {Chameleon mineral}, under
{Chameleon}.

{Mineral charcoal}. See under {Charcoal}.

{Mineral cotton}. See {Mineral wool} (below).

{Mineral green}, a green carbonate of copper; malachite.

{Mineral kingdom} (Nat. Sci.), that one of the three grand
divisions of nature which embraces all inorganic objects,
as distinguished from plants or animals.

{Mineral oil}. See {Naphtha}, and {Petroleum}.

{Mineral paint}, a pigment made chiefly of some natural
mineral substance, as red or yellow iron ocher.

{Mineral patch}. See {Bitumen}, and {Asphalt}.

{Mineral right}, the right of taking minerals from land.

{Mineral salt} (Chem.), a salt of a mineral acid.

{Mineral tallow}, a familiar name for {hatchettite}, from its
fatty or spermaceti-like appearance.

{Mineral water}. See under {Water}.

{Mineral wax}. See {Ozocerite}.

{Mineral wool}, a fibrous wool-like material, made by blowing
a powerful jet of air or steam through melted slag. It is
a poor conductor of heat.
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