Revisiting the History of the Ural Mineral Industry and its Terminology: Who are тальяны (talians) Dedicated to?

The authors study the history behind development of mineral deposits in Ural Gemstone Belt (near Murzinka village, Gornouralsky Urban District, Sverdlovsk Oblast), as well mineralogical and toponymical terminology connected to this history. analysis focuses on following issues: how were discovered; what role it belonged visiting Italian masters (the Tortori brothers); their activities are popular term тальян (тальянчик, тальяшка) ‘any precious (crystal) stone’, ‘amethyst’, ‘pure quartz’, ‘smoky name mountain (mine) Тальян. conclude that, although version is widespread literature, brothers not first discover gemstones near settlement. Тальян a metonymic transfer from mine Murzinka. In mine, crystal mined — mostly amethysts that called тальяны. any case, word derives stem (и)тальян- meaning “Italian” but discovery deposit. Most probably, conveys naïve impression coloured transparent stones resemble glass. Thus, motivational parallel вениса ‘garnet’ (lit. ‘Venetian stone’). appeared no later than eighteenth century; already existed before arrived. After arrival, could gain new impetus started be perceived result dedicatory nomination.