or death ensues, decomposition takes place, and the original being is entirely destroyed.
Mineralogy,
on the contrary, comprises those natural objects which are not
possessed of life, and do not increase by absorption, but merely by
accretion—that is, by an external growth or addition without any
assimilation; they do not mature by age ; their parts may be separated
without destroying their individuality; and their formation being the
result of chemical attraction, they are not liable to decomposition.
Mineralogy comprises two distinct sciences: Mineralogy proper,
which treats of the simple minerals, either as independent bodies, or
in relation to the characters which serve to determine and distinguish
them; and Geology, which considers both simple and mixed
minerals as they exist in nature, and in their dependent relations with
soils and rocks. Mineralogy describes the individual qualities of the
several mineral species,—Geology treats of them only- as associated in
the structure of the earth.
The characters of minerals are ascertained by their morphological, physical, and chemical properties. That part of Mineralogy w7hich
treats of the application of minerals to the different arts, is called
Economical Mineralogy; minerals used by lapidaries in making
ornaments, are called Gems.
Geometry,
Physics (Natural Philosophy), and Chemistry, form the base for the
study of Mineralogy, as without a knowledge of those sciences, the true
characters of a mineral cannot be ascertained.
Geology
is, according to Lyell's explanation, the science which investigates
the successive changes that have taken place in the organic and
inorganic kingdoms of nature. It
