Founded in 1958, the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) is an international group of 40 national societies. The goal is to promote the science of

mineralogy Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proces ...

and to standardize the nomenclature of the 5000 plus known mineral species. The IMA is affiliated with the

International Union of Geological Sciences The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology. About The IUGS was founded in 1961 and is a Scientific Union member of the Inte ...

(IUGS). The Association supports the activities of Commissions and Working Groups involved on certain aspects of mineralogical practice and facilitates interactions among mineralogists by sponsoring and organising meetings. In particular, the IMA holds its general meeting every four years. The next meeting is scheduled in 2022 in Lyon, France.

Presidents

The presidents of the IMA have been: * since 2021: Anhuai Lu **

Peking University Peking University (PKU; ) is a public research university in Beijing, China. The university is funded by the Ministry of Education. Peking University was established as the Imperial University of Peking in 1898 when it received its royal charter ...

*2018–2020: Patrick Cordier (born 1961) **

Université de Lille The University of Lille (french: Université de Lille, abbreviated as ULille, UDL or univ-lille) is a French public research university based in Lille, Hauts-de-France. It has its origins in the University of Douai (1559), and resulted from the m ...

*2016–2018:

Peter C. Burns Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

** University of Notre Dame *2014–2016:

Sergey V. Krivovichev Sergey may refer to: * Sergey (name), a Russian given name (including a list of people with the name) * Sergey, Switzerland, a municipality in Switzerland * ''Sergey'' (wasp), a genus in subfamily Doryctinae The Doryctinae or doryctine wasps are ...

(born 1972) **

Saint Petersburg State University Saint Petersburg State University (SPBU; russian: Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет) is a public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in 1724 by a decree of Peter the G ...

*2012–2014:

Walter V. Maresch Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 1 ...

** Ruhr University Bochum *2010–2012:

Ekkehart Tillmanns Ekkehard (and Eckardt, Eckard, Eckart, Eckhardt, Ekkehart) is a German given name. It is composed of the elements ''ekke'' "edge, blade; sword" and ''hart'' "brave; hardy". Variant forms include Eckard, Eckhard, Eckhart, Eckart. The Anglo-Saxon fo ...

(born 1941) ** Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, University of Vienna ** Mineral: tillmannsite (IMA2001-010) *2006–2010: Takamitsu Yamanaka **

Osaka University , abbreviated as , is a public research university located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It is one of Japan's former Imperial Universities and a Designated National University listed as a "Top Type" university in the Top Global University Project. ...

*2002–2006:

Ian Parsons Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John (given name), John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a ...

** University of Edinburgh *1998–2002: Anthony (Tony) J. Naldrett (born 1933) ** University of Toronto ** Mineral: naldrettite (IMA2004-007) *1994–1998:

Stefano Merlino Stefano is the Italian form of the masculine given name Στέφανος (Stefanos, Stephen). The name is of Greek origin, Στέφανος, meaning a person who made a significant achievement and has been crowned. In Orthodox Christianity the ach ...

(born 1938) ** University of Pisa ** Mineral: merlinoite (IMA1976-046) *1990–1994: Xiande Xie ** Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry ( Chinese Academy of Sciences) ** Mineral:

xieite Xieite is an iron chromium oxide mineral with formula Fe2+Cr2O4. It is a member of the spinel group and a high pressure polymorph of chromite. It was discovered in samples taken from the Suizhou meteorite which fell in 1986 in the Zengdu Distr ...

(IMA2007-056) *1986–1990: Peter John Wyllie (born 1930) ** California Institute of Technology (after 1984, Caltech) and University of Chicago (1965–1983) ** Mineral: wyllieite (IMA1972-015) *1982–1986: Ivan Kostov (Nikolov) (1913–2004) ** Sofia University ** Mineral: kostovite (IMA1965-002) *1978–1982: Claude (Jean Guy) Guillemin (1923–1994) ** École des Mines de Paris ( Mines ParisTech) ** Mineral:

guilleminite Guilleminite (Ba(UO2)3(SeO3)2(OH)4•3H2O) is a uranium mineral named by R. Pierrot, J. Toussaint, and T. Verbeek in 1965 in honor of Jean Claude Guillemin (1923–1994), a chemist and mineralogist. It is a rare uranium/selenium mineral found at t ...

(IMA1964-031) *1974–1978: Vladimir Stepanovich Sobolev (1908–1982) ** Novosibirsk State University ** Mineral: sobolevite (IMA1982-042) *1970–1974: Karl Hugo Strunz (1910–2006) **

Technical University of Berlin The Technical University of Berlin (official name both in English and german: link=no, Technische Universität Berlin, also known as TU Berlin and Berlin Institute of Technology) is a public research university located in Berlin, Germany. It was ...

** Mineral:

strunzite Strunzite (Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)26H2O) is a light yellow mineral of the strunzite group, first discovered in 1957. It crystallizes in the triclinic system and has a light, vitreous luster, a specific gravity of 2.52 and a Mohs hardness of 4. Associ ...

(1958) *1964–1970: Cecil Edgar Tilley (1894–1973) ** University of Cambridge (England) ** Mineral: tilleyite (1933) *1960–1964:

Daniel Jerome Fisher Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge"Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 68. (cf. Gabriel—"God is my strength"), ...

(1896–1988) ** University of Chicago ** Mineral: djerfisherite (IMA1965-028) *1958–1960: Robert Lüling Parker (1893–1973) ** Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (

ETH Zurich (colloquially) , former_name = eidgenössische polytechnische Schule , image = ETHZ.JPG , image_size = , established = , type = Public , budget = CHF 1.896 billion (2021) , rector = Günther Dissertori , president = Joël Mesot , ac ...

) and University of Zurich ** Mineral: parkerite (1937)

Medal

The IMA Medal for Excellence in Mineralogical Research was created in 2006. It is awarded for scientific excellence and eminence as represented by long-term outstanding scientific publication in the field of mineralogical sciences. It is one of the pre-eminent awards in mineralogical research and represents a life-time achievement award.

Medalists

* 2022 -

Patricia Dove Patricia Martin Dove is an American geochemist. She is a University Distinguished Professor and the C.P. Miles Professor of Science at Virginia Tech with appointments in the Department of Geosciences and Department of Chemistry. Her research focu ...

* 2021 - Robert Hazen * 2020 - Georges Calas * 2019 - Eiji Ohtani * 2018 - Gordon E. Brown, Jr. * 2017 - Emil Makovicky * 2015 -

Rod C. Ewing Rod, Ror, Ród, Rőd, Rød, Röd, ROD, or R.O.D. may refer to: Devices * Birch rod, made out of twigs from birch or other trees for corporal punishment * Ceremonial rod, used to indicate a position of authority * Connecting rod, main, coupling ...

* 2013 - Nikolay V. Sobolev * 2011 - David H. Green * 2009 -

Frank C. Hawthorne Frank Christopher Hawthorne (born 8 January 1946 in Bristol, England) is a Canadian mineralogist, crystallographer and spectroscopist. He works at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and is currently Distinguished ...

* 2008 - Charles Prewitt

Working groups and commissions

The most active IMA commission is the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (CNMMN). It was founded in 1959 to coordinate the assigning of new mineral names, revision of existing names and discreditation of invalid species. Traditionally, the validation procedure of new minerals is one of the chairman's tasks and the discreditation or revalidation procedure of invalid species are two of the vice-chairman's tasks. In July 2006 a merger between the CNMMN and the Commission on Classification of Minerals (CCM), initiated at the request of both commissions, resulted in the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC).

Chairmen of CNMNC

* Ritsuro Miyawaki (since c. 2018) * Ulf Hålenius (2015-2018); (since c. 2015); mineral:

håleniusite-(La) Håleniusite-(La), chemical formula . is a yellow isometric mineral. It has a dull, earthy lustre. The geological setting of håleniusite-(La) is in vugs and leaching zones of massive ferriallanite-(Ce), intimately intergrown with cerite-(Ce) and ...

(IMA 2003-028) * Peter (Pete) A. Williams (2008 – 2014); mineral: petewilliamsite (IMA 2002-059) ** Frédéric Hatert, vice-chairman (changes in existing nomenclature) **

Marco Pasero Marco may refer to: People * Marco (given name), people with the given name Marco * Marco (actor) (born 1977), South Korean model and actor * Georg Marco (1863–1923), Romanian chess player of German origin * Tomás Marco (born 1942), Spanish c ...

, vice-chairman (general classification matters) *

Ernst A. J. Burke Ernst is both a surname and a given name, the German, Dutch, and Scandinavian form of Ernest. Notable people with the name include: Surname * Adolf Ernst (1832–1899) German botanist known by the author abbreviation "Ernst" * Anton Ernst (1975-) ...

(2003 – August, 2008); mineral: ernstburkeite (IMA 2010-059) ** Giovanni Ferraris, vice-chairman *

Joel Denison Grice Joel or Yoel is a name meaning "Yahweh Is God" and may refer to: * Joel (given name), origin of the name including a list of people with the first name. * Joel (surname), a surname * Joel (footballer, born 1904), Joel de Oliveira Monteiro, Brazili ...

(1995 – 2002); mineral: griceite (IMA 1986-043) * Joseph (Joe) Anthony Mandarino (1983 – 1994); mineral: mandarinoite (IMA 1977-049) ** Ernest (Ernie) H. Nickel, vice-chairman; mineral: ernienickelite (IMA 1993-002) *

Akira Kato Akira may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Akira'' (franchise), a Japanese cyberpunk franchise ** ''Akira'' (manga), a 1980s cyberpunk manga by Katsuhiro Otomo ** ''Akira'' (1988 film), an anime film adaptation of the manga ** ''Akira'' (vide ...

(1975 – 1982); mineral: katoite (IMA 1982-080a) * Michael (Mike) Fleischer (1959 – 1974); mineral: fleischerite (IMA 1962 s.p.) **

Max Hey Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) (1 ...

, vice-chairman ** François Permingeat, secretary

Member societies

Among the societies represented at the IMA are: * Associación Mineralogica Argentina *

Bulgarian Mineralogical Society Bulgarian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Bulgaria * Bulgarians, a South Slavic ethnic group * Bulgarian language, a Slavic language * Bulgarian alphabet * A citizen of Bulgaria, see Demographics of Bulgaria * Bul ...

Ceska geolicka spolecnost Ceska or Česká may refer to: *The name of Czech Republic in Czech and the corresponding adjective *Česká, a village and municipality in the Czech Republic *Franz Ceska, Austrian diplomat *Michal Češka Michal Češka (born 2 September 1992) ...

* Croatian Mineralogical Association * Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft * Geological Society of Australia *

Geological Society of Greece Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...

, Committee of Economic Geology Mineralogy and Geochemistry * Koninklijk Nederlands Geologisch Mijnbouwkundig Genootschap (Royal Geological and Mining Society of the Netherlands) * Magyahoni Földtani Tarsulat (Hungarian Geological Society), Asvantyan-Geokémoai Szakosztally (Mineralogical and Geochemical Section) * Mineralogical Association of Canada * Mineralogical Association of South Africa * Mineralogical Society of America *

Mineralogical Society of Denmark Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proce ...

Mineralogical Society of Georgia Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical mineralogy, optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifact (archaeology), artifacts. Specific s ...

* Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland *

Mineralogical Society of India Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proce ...

Mineralogical Society of Japan Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proce ...

Mineralogical Society of Korea Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proce ...

Mineralogical Society of Romania Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proce ...

Mineralogical Society of Slovakia Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proce ...

* Mineralogical Society of Uzbekistan *

Norsk Geologisk Forening Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe *Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including th ...

, Mineralogisk Gruppe * New Zealand Geochemical and Mineralogical Society * Österreichische Mineralogische Gesellschaft * Polskie Towarzystwo Mineralogiczne *

Russian Mineralogical Society The Russian Mineralogical Society (RMS) is a public scientific organization uniting specialists and scientific groups working in the field of mineralogy and adjacent sciences. RMS was founded in 1817 Saint Petersburg, Russia, and is the world oldes ...

* Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Gesellschaft *

Slovenian Geological Society Slovene or Slovenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Slovenia, a country in Central Europe * Slovene language, a South Slavic language mainly spoken in Slovenia * Slovenes, an ethno-linguistic group mainly living in Slovenia * Sl ...

, Mineralogical Branch * Sociedad Española de MineralogíaSociedad Española de Mineralogía: History
Retrieved 2011-05-31 * Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia * Sociedade Geologica de Portugal, Grupo de Mineralogia * Società Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia *

Société Française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie Lactalis is a French multinational dairy products corporation, owned by the Besnier family and based in Laval, Mayenne, France. The company's former name was Besnier SA. Lactalis is the largest dairy products group in the world, and is the se ...

* Suomen mineraloginen seura r.y * The Chinese Society of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry * The Mineralogical Society of Egypt *

The Swedish Mineralogical Society ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...

* Ukrainian Mineralogical Association * Union Minéralogique de Belgique

References

External links

IMA homepage

* ttp://www.minsocam.org/ IMA - Mineralogical Society of America {{Authority control Mineralogy Geology organizations International scientific organizations International organizations based in Canada Organizations established in 1958