Difference between revisions of "Mineralogy"

<p> '''(1):''' ''' (''' n.) A treatise or book on this science. </p> <p> '''(2):''' ''' (''' n.) The science which treats of minerals, and teaches how to describe, distinguish, and classify them. </p>

<p> This science, like all others of modern date, was in a very imperfect state among the Hebrews. Hence the sacred writers speak of minerals without any scientific classification, and according to their merely external characteristics. This occasions the utmost difficulty in identifying any but the commonest mineral substances. In precious stones, particularly, this vagueness of name and description precludes the possibility of any certainty as to the actual mineral intended, or, rather, leads to the presumption that in most instances no one substance is denoted, but that the name is generic, including all stones of the same general appearance, color, hardness, etc. (See [[Gem]]). The following is a list of the mineral productions mentioned in the Bible, with their probable modern representatives. For details, see each word in its place. </p> <p> ''''' ''''' </p> <table> <tr> <td> <p> ''Achlamah'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Amethyst]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "amethyst." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Astro'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Alabaster]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "alabaster." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Amethustos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Amethyst </p> </td> <td> <p> "amethyst." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Arguros'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Silver </p> </td> <td> <p> "silver." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Bahat.'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Marble]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "red marble." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Bareketh'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Emerald? </p> </td> <td> <p> "carbuncle." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Barzel'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Iron </p> </td> <td> <p> "iron." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Bedd'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Alloy? </p> </td> <td> <p> "tin" </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Bedolach'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Bdellium]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "bdellium." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Berullos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Beryl]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "beryl." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Betser'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Ore]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "gold." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Bor, Borith'' } </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Alkali]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "soap," et </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chalkedon'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Chalcedony]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "chalcedony." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chalkolibdnon'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Electrum]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "fine brass." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chalkos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Copper]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "brass." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Challamish'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Flint]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "flint," etc. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chashmaal'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Burnished]] Copper </p> </td> <td> <p> " amber." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chemar'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Bitumen]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "slime." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chol'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Sand]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "sand." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chrusolethos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Chrysolite]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "chrysolite." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chrusoprasos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Chrysoprase]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "chrysoprase." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Chrusos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Gold </p> </td> <td> <p> "gold." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Dar'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Pearl-stone </p> </td> <td> <p> "white marble." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Ekdach'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Carbuncle]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "carbuncle." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Gabish'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Crystal]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "pearl." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Gir'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Lime]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "chalk." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Gophrth'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Sulphur </p> </td> <td> <p> "brimstone." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Hals'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Salt </p> </td> <td> <p> "salt." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Huakinthos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Hyacinth]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "jacinth." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Huilos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Glass </p> </td> <td> <p> "glass." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Jaspis'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Jasper]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "jasper." </p> </td> </tr> </table> <p> ''''' ''''' </p> <table> <tr> <td> <p> ''Kadkod'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Ruby]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "agate." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Kerach'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Crystal </p> </td> <td> <p> "crystal." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Keseph'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Silver </p> </td> <td> <p> "silver." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Kethem,'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Virgin]] Gold </p> </td> <td> <p> "gold." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Krustallos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Crystal </p> </td> <td> <p> "crystal." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> [[Leshem]] </p> </td> <td> <p> Opal? </p> </td> <td> <p> "ligure." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Margarites'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Pearl]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "pearl." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Marnuros'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Marble </p> </td> <td> <p> "marble." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Melach'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Salt </p> </td> <td> <p> "salt." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Nechash, Nechosheth'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Copper </p> </td> <td> <p> "brass." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> [[Nether]] </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Nitre]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "nitre.' </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Nophek'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Emerald? </p> </td> <td> <p> "emerald." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''O'Dem'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Garnet]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "sardius." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Ophereth'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Lead </p> </td> <td> <p> "lead." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Paldah'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Steel]] </p> </td> <td> <p> torch." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Paz'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Refined]] Gold </p> </td> <td> <p> "fine gold." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> Pitdah </p> </td> <td> <p> Topaz? </p> </td> <td> <p> "topaz." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Puk'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Antimony]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "paint." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Sappheiros,'' </p> </td> <td> <p> sapphire </p> </td> <td> <p> "sapphire." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Sardinos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> sapphire </p> </td> <td> <p> "sardius." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Sardios'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Carnelian]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "sardine." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Sardonux'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Sardonyx]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "Sardonyx." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Shaish'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Alabaster </p> </td> <td> <p> "marble." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> [[Shamir]] </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Diamond]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "diamond," etc. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Shasher'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Red Ochre </p> </td> <td> <p> "vermilion." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Shebo'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Agate? </p> </td> <td> <p> "agate." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Shesh'' </p> </td> <td> <p> White Marble </p> </td> <td> <p> "marble." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> [[Shoham]] </p> </td> <td> <p> Onyx? </p> </td> <td> <p> "onyx." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Sidros'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Iron </p> </td> <td> <p> "iron." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Sig'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Scoriae, etc </p> </td> <td> <p> "dross." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Smaragdos'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Emerald]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "emerald." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Sochereth'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Spotted]] Marble </p> </td> <td> <p> "black marble." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> [[Tarshish]] </p> </td> <td> <p> Topaz? </p> </td> <td> <p> "bervl." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Theio'' n </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Brimstone]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "brimstone." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Topazion.'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Topaz]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "topaz." </p> </td> </tr> </table> <p> ''''' ''''' </p> <table> <tr> <td> <p> ''Tsar'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Nodule </p> </td> <td> <p> "flint." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Yahalon. '''''…''''' '' </p> </td> <td> <p> Onyx? </p> </td> <td> <p> "diamond." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Yashepheth'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Jasper </p> </td> <td> <p> "jasper. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Zahab'' </p> </td> <td> <p> Gold </p> </td> <td> <p> "gold." </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> ''Zekuketh'' </p> </td> <td> <p> [[Glass]] </p> </td> <td> <p> "crystal." </p> </td> </tr> </table> <p> ''''' ''''' </p> <p> See Rosenmuller, Biblical [[Mineralogy]] and [[Botany]] (Edinb. 1846, 12mo); Moore, [[Ancient]] Mineralogy (N.Y. 1834, 12mo). </p>