Who invented the common rock names and when?

Like Granite, Schist, Gneiss, Diorite etc

Who invented the common rock names and when?
Most of the names are already-established names. No body knows their discoverer. But you will see the a large number of rocks derived their names from one of their dominant characters - like limestone, sandstone, quartzite, granulite, quartzite, ultramafic, peridotite, pyroxenite, carbonatite etc. Some are named after a locality. In some rare cases, the rocks are named after a person who may or may not be the discoverer (for example Charnockite is named after Job Charnock, whose tomb was constructed by this special type of granulite).


Since it is only the last 250 years or so that Geology is being studied systematically, most of the rock names are originated within this period.
Reply:Indeed it will be an intersting and fascinating quest. I don't think anybody has attempted this. If you really can compile it, that will certainly be an invaluable document and a great contribution to geology. Why don't you try it ? That is, if you have some time to spare. Report Abuse

Reply:Most likely they are from a description derived from the Latin.


Most Scientific stuff is so named... just to stop the plebs getting above themselves.


Doctors hid their ignorance behind Latin for centuries until the real world caught up with them.