De lapidibus

work by Theophrastus

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June 25, 2026

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The De lapidibus ("On Stones") is a significant work by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus, written around the early 3rd century BCE. It is considered the earliest known treatise on rocks and minerals and remained a foundational text in mineralogy for nearly two millennia. The work attempts to classify approximately 70 different materials, though it is more of a classification effort than a detailed systematic description. Theophrastus was a student of Aristotle and became the head of the Lyceum in Athens, embracing and expanding upon Aristotle's philosophical and scientific inquiries.12

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Earth sciences
Knowledge of Earth composition and structure
…rocks and minerals is the De lapidibus (“On Stones”) of the Greek philosopher Theophrastus(c. 372–c. 287 bce). Written probably in the early years of the 3rd century, this work remained the best study of mineral substances for almost 2,000 years. Although reference is made to some 70 different materials, the…
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…rocks and minerals is the De lapidibus (“On Stones”) of the Greek philosopher Theophrastus(c. 372–c. 287 bce). Written probably in the early years of the 3rd century, this work remained the best study of mineral substances for almost 2,000 years. Although reference is made to some 70 different materials, the…
Read More