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 paraffine. -- 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.
Min"er*al*ist, n. [Cf. F. minéraliste.] One versed in minerals;
mineralogist. [R.]