(Born: Frugård, Mänzälä, Finland, 12 October 1792; Died: Frugård, Mänzälä, Finland, 1866) Finnish mineralogist.

Nordenskiöld was the father of Nils Adolf Erik von Nordenskiöld. He studied chemistry and mineralogy at Åbo Academy under J. Gadolin. Through the patronage of Count Fabien Steinheil, he was given the opportunity to study abroad for a long period. Upon his return in 1817, Nordenskiöld was appointed inspector of mines in Finland, followed by a post as superintendent of the Mining Board in Helsingfors in 1823. He was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences at Helsingfors.

Biographical references: Annual Register. • Biographiskt Lexicon. • Cleevely, World Palæontological Collections, 1983: 216. • Finsk Biografisk Handbok: 2, cols. 1556-9. • Hausen, History of Mineralogy in Finland, 1968: 16-8, portrait. • ISIS, 1913-65: 2, 239. • Laitakari, Geologische Bibliographie Finnlands, 1934: 123-5. • Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: 316. • Oma Maa, 1907-12. • Poggendorff: 2, col. 298 & 3, 977. • Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 3, 1800-1 [other refs.]. • SBA: Scandinavian Biographical Archive: B-219, 349-368. • Svenskt Biografiskt Handlexikon: 2, 200-2, portrait. • Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon. • WBI.

Finlands Mineralier och Geognosie, 1820

1. Swedish, 1820.
Bidrag | till närmare kännedom | af | Finlands | Mineralier och Geognosie. | [rule] | Första Häftet. | [rule] | Af | Nils Nordenskiöld, | Bergmästare, Corresp. Ledamot af Kejeserl. Vet. Academien | i S:t Petersburg, samt Heders-Ledamot af Pharm. | Sållsk. derstådes. | [ornate rule] | Stockholm, 1820. | Tryckt hos Direct. Henrik A. Nordström.

8°: π⁸ A-E⁸ F⁴ G⁴; 56l.; [8], [1]-103, [1] p., 4 folding plates (one colored). Page size: 202 x 123 mm.

Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [1 pg], Dedication to Comte Nicolas de Romanzoff.; [1 pg], Blank.; [2 pgs], "Monseigneur!"-signed N. Nordenskiöld.; [1 pg], "Innehåll." (=contents).; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-103, Text.; [At end], 4 folding plates (one colored).

Plates: REDO THIS These consist of: I. Colored geological cross section of Kimitto Tantalitbrott (202 x 230 mm.). II. Crystal drawings and 3 figures of a III. IV.

Very scarce. No more published. The first scientific handbook of Finnish minerals, in which the author describes a large number of species previously unknown in Finland. Of these, twenty were new to science. In addition, several species have their chemical composition reported as well, no doubt the influence of Berzelius, with whom Nordenskiöld had studied under for a time.

Bibliographical references: BMC: 3, 1443. • Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 78. • Hausen, History of Mineralogy in Finland, 1968: 17. • NUC: 421, 252.

2. Swedish, 1827 [First edition].
Försök | till | framställning | af | kemiska mineralsystemet, | med afseende på öfverensstämelsen | emellan | fossiliernas kemiska sammansättning | och | deras kristallform, | af | Nils Nordenskiöld | [...3 lines of titles and memberships...] | [rule] | Stockholm, | tryckt hos P.A. Norstedt & söner, 1827.

4°: π³ 1-3⁴ χ²; 17l.; [2], [i]-iv, [1]-25, [3] p.

Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [i]-iv, "Företal" (=forword).; [1]-25, "Enkla kroppar" (=systematic tabular overview of the mineral system with one page of comments).; [1 pg], Blank.; [1 pg], Errata.; [1 pg], Blank.

Rare. In this Proposal for a Chemical System of Mineralogy, Nordenskiöld' unites the chemical theories of Berzelius with his own analytical work with which he was then engaged. \JKjellman

Bibliographical references: NUC. • SWIM.

3. Swedish, 1833 [2nd edition].
Försök till framställning af kemiska mineral-systemet. Andra upplagan, Jemte Beskrifning af de i Finland funna Mineralier. Första häftet. Helsingfors, 1833.

8°: [2], xxii, 100 p., one folding table.

Very scarce. No more published.

Bibliographical references: Poggendorff: 2, col. 298.

.