The Dawn of Mineralogy

Abstract

 The history of mineralogy can be traced back to the Greco-Roman period, from Theophrastos to Agricola. Linné, Cronstedt, and Werner established classical mineralogy. Crystallography developed with mineralogy, and classical crystallography was established by Haüy through Steno. In the 19th century, the discovery of X-rays by Röntgen and the discovery of X-ray diffraction by Laue gave birth to modern mineralogy and crystallography. A little later, electron diffraction was discovered, leading to the invention of the electron microscope. In Japan, Wada laid the foundations for mineralogy and crystallography.