ORYCTOG'NOSY, n. [Gr. fossil, and knowledge.] That branch of mineralogy which has for its object the classification of minerals, according to well ascertained characters, and under appropriate denominations.Oryctognosy consists in the description of minerals, the determination of their nomenclature, and the systematic arrangement of their different species. It coincides nearly with mineralogy, in its modern acceptation.
|
