What is "mineral kingdom"

Kingdom \King"dom\, n. [AS. cyningd[=o]m. See 2d King, and -dom.]

1. The rank, quality, state, or attributes of a king; royal authority; sovereign power; rule; dominion; monarchy.

   Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
   --Ps. cxiv. 13.

   When Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself.
   --2 Chron. xxi. 4.

2. The territory or country subject to a king or queen; the dominion of a monarch; the sphere in which one is king or has control.

   Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.
   --Shak.

   You're welcome, Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom.
   --Shak.

3. An extensive scientific division distinguished by leading or ruling characteristics; a principal division; a department; as, the mineral kingdom. In modern biology, the division of life into five kingdoms is widely used for classification. ``The animal and vegetable kingdoms.'' --Locke. Animal kingdom. See under Animal. Kingdom of God.

   1. The universe.

   2. That spiritual realm of which God is the acknowledged sovereign.

   3. The authority or dominion of God.

      Mineral kingdom. See under Mineral.

      United Kingdom. See under United.

      Vegetable kingdom. See under Vegetable.

      Syn: Realm; empire; dominion; monarchy; sovereignty; domain.

Mineral \Min"er*al\, a.

1. Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or of minerals; as, a mineral substance.

2. Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters.

   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.

n. all inorganic objects; contrasts with animal and plant kingdoms