Mineral/rock

Derived from or for

Maghemite

from the fisrt syllables of magmetite and hematite referring to the magnetism and and composition

Magnesite

see magnesium; applied to a series of magnesium salts by J.C. Delanethrie in 1795; D.L.G. Karsten first restricted it to the natural carbonate in 1808

Magnesium/ magnesia

Possibly Latin magnesia, a mineral said to be brought from the province of Magnesia in Thessaly, Greece > magnesia alba > "magnesia" and "magnesium" (magnesia negra > "manganese"); See manganese.

Magnetite

Middle Latin magnes = magnet in reference to its magnetic properties; or from Magnes, a shepherd who first discovered the mineral on Mount Ida when the rock was attracted to the nails in his shoes

Manganese

Possibly Latin magnesia, a mineral said to be brought from the province of Magnesia in Thessaly, Greece > magnesia negra and corrupted to "manganese" (in common with magnesia alba > "magnesia" and "magnesium"; alternatively Greek mangania = magic. See magnesium/magnesia.

Manganite

manganese content (see above)

Marble

Greek marmairein = to shine, marmaros = white glistening stone

Marcasite

probably Arabic or Moorish for pyrite and similar substances

Mayenite

locality near Mayen, Eifel district Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Meerschaum

Greek meer = sea and schaum = froth for its light weight and color

Mendozite

Mendoza, Argentina

Meyerhofferite

Wilhelm Meyerhoffer (1864-1906), German chemist

Mica

Latin micare = to shine or to glitter or the Latin mica = a crumb or grain

Microcline

Greek mikro = little and klinein = to incline in reference to its characteristic variation of cleavage angle from 90^o

Millisite

F.T. Mills, of Lehi, Utah, the first observer

Mirabilite

Latin sal mirabilis = wonderful salt, Greek lithos = stone

Mohavite

Mohave desert, California. A.k.a. tincalconite.

Monazite

Greek monazein = to be alone alluding to its rarity 

Montebrasite

locality at Mintebras, Creuse, France

Montmorillonite

locality at Montmorillon, Vienne, France

Mordenite (zeolite)

Morden, King's County, Nova Scotia, Canada

Morganite

John Pierpont Morgan, American banker and gem enthusiast

Mullite

locality at the island of Mull, Scotland, Greek lithos = stone

Muscovite

Muscovy glass, when first described from Muscovy Province, Russia