List of minerals approved by IMA
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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 ...
is an active science in which
mineral In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. ( ...
s are discovered or recognised on a regular basis. Use of old mineral names is also discontinued, for example when a name is no longer considered valid. Therefore, a list of recognised mineral species is never complete. Minerals are distinguished by various chemical and physical properties. Differences in chemical composition and crystal structure distinguish the various ''species''. Within a mineral species there may be variation in physical properties or minor amounts of impurities that are recognized by mineralogists or wider society as a mineral ''variety''. The
International Mineralogical Association 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 and to standardize the nomenclature of the 5000 plus known mineral species. Th ...
(IMA) is the international scientific group that recognises new minerals and new mineral names. However, minerals discovered before 1959 did not go through the official naming procedure. Some minerals published previously have been either confirmed or discredited since that date. This list contains a mixture of mineral names that have been approved since 1959 and those mineral names believed to still refer to valid mineral species (these are called "grandfathered" species). Presently, each year about 90–110 new mineral species (the sum of all mutations c. 120 per year) are officially approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association. , the IMA - CNMNC Master List of Minerals lists 5,863 valid minerals, including 1,153 pre-IMA minerals (grandfathered), and 97 questionable minerals. Also , the Handbook of Mineralogy lists 5,330 species, and the IMA Database of Mineral Properties/Rruff Project lists 5,830 valid species (IMA/CNMNC) of a total of 6,058 minerals. The IMA/Rruff database includes 1,164 pre-IMA minerals. Due to the length of this list, it is divided into alphabetical groups. The minerals are sorted by name. *
List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (A) __TOC__ A Aa – Ak #Abellaite (IMA2014-111) 5.BE o o(IUPAC: sodium dilead hydro dicarbonate) #Abelsonite (IMA1975-013) 10.CA.2List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (B) __TOC__ B Ba # Babánekite (vivianite: IMA2012-007) 8.CE o o(IUPAC: tricopper diarsenate octahydrate) #Babefphite (IMA1966-003) 8.BA.1
*
List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (C) __TOC__ C Ca #Cabalzarite (tsumcorite: IMA1997-012) 8.CG.1
o
(IUPAC: calcium dim ...
*
List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (D) __TOC__ D #Dachiardite (zeolitic tectosilicate) 9.GD.40 ##Dachiardite-Ca ( IMA1997 s.p., 1906) 9.GD.4List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (E) __TOC__ E #Eakerite (IMA1969-019) 9.CG.0List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (F) __TOC__ F Fa – Fe # Fabianite (IMA1967 s.p., 1962) 6.FC.2List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (G) __TOC__ G Ga – Ge # Gabrielite (IMA2002-053) 2.HD.60(IUPAC: dithallium silver dicopper heptasulfur triarsenide) # Gabrielsonite (IMA2017-G, IMA1966-011) 8.BH.35 (IUPAC: lead iron(III) hydro arsenite) #Gachingite (IMA2 ...
*
List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (H) __TOC__ H Ha – He #Haapalaite (valleriite: IMA1972-021) 2.FD.3List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (I) __TOC__ I #Ianbruceite (IMA2011-049) 8.DA.5 o o#Iangreyite (IMA2009-087) 8.DE.4 o#Ianthinite (Y: 1926) 4.GA.1
* * *
List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (M) __TOC__ M Ma #Macaulayite (IMA1981-062) 9.EC.6List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (N) __TOC__ N # Nabalamprophyllite (lamprophyllite, seidozerite: IMA2001-060) 9.BE.2List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (O) __TOC__ O #Oberthürite (IMA2017-072) 2. o o#Oberwolfachite (alunite: IMA2021-010 o o#Oboyerite (tellurite-tellurium oxysalt: IMA1979-009) 4.JN.2
* List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (P–Q) *
List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (R) __TOC__ R Ra – Re #Raadeite (allactite: IMA1996-034) 8.BE.3
o
(IUPAC: heptamagnesium octahydro diphosphate ...
*
List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (S) __TOC__ S Sa # Saamite (seidozerite, lamprophyllite: IMA2013-083) 9.B? o o# Sabatierite (IMA1976-043) 2.BD.4List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (T) __TOC__ T Ta – Te # Tacharanite (Y: 1961) 9.HA.7List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (U–V) __TOC__ U # Uakitite (nitride, rocksalt: IMA2018-003) 1. o o# Uchucchacuaite (lillianite: IMA1981-007) 2.JB.40
*
List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (W–X) __TOC__ W #Wad # Wadalite (mayenite: IMA1987-045) 9.AD.2
o
* *
List of minerals (synonyms) A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...
* English Wikipedia:
List of minerals (short list) * Abbreviations: **"*" – discredited (IMA/CNMNC status). **"s.p." – special procedure. **Q or "?" – questionable/doubtful (IMA/CNMNC, mindat.org or mineralienatlas.de status). **N – published without approval of the IMA/CNMNC, or just not an IMA approved mineral but with some acceptance in the scientific community nowadays. The 'IMA database of mineral properties' (rruff.info/ima) has 173 species with 'not an IMA approved mineral' tag, some are an intermediate member of a
solid solution A solid solution, a term popularly used for metals, is a homogenous mixture of two different kinds of atoms in solid state and have a single crystal structure. Many examples can be found in metallurgy, geology, and solid-state chemistry. The word ...
series, others are "recently" discredited minerals. **I – intermediate member of a solid-solution series. **H – hypothetical mineral (synthetic, anthropogenic, etc.) ***ch – incomplete description, hypothetical solid solution end member. Published without approval and formally discredited or not approved, yet. **** Mainly:
pyrochlore Pyrochlore () is a mineral group of the niobium end member of the pyrochlore supergroup. The general formula, (where A and B are metals), represent a family of phases isostructural to the mineral pyrochlore. Pyrochlores are an important class of ...
,
tourmaline Tourmaline ( ) is a crystalline silicate mineral group in which boron is compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is a gemstone and can be found in a wide variety of colors. The ...
and
amphibole Amphibole () is a group of inosilicate minerals, forming prism or needlelike crystals, composed of double chain tetrahedra, linked at the vertices and generally containing ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structures. Its IMA symbol is A ...
supergroups, arrojadite, and yftisite-(Y). IMA/CNMNC revisions generate hypothetical solid solution
endmember An endmember (also end-member or end member) in mineralogy is a mineral that is at the extreme end of a mineral series in terms of purity of its chemical composition. Minerals often can be described as solid solutions with varying compositions of ...
s. **group – a name used to designate a group of species, sometimes only a mineral group name.


Working practices

* The name of a new mineral is kept confidential by the IMA until it is approved or until its full description is published, its authors' option (approved decision: 'IMA2009-D'). The IMA uses a code for its own procedures for the supposed new mineral (and so it is a synonym). Ferri-ottoliniite's proposal was assigned code 'IMA2001-067', it was redefined and approved as 'IMA2001-067a' in 2003, for instance (the ottoliniite root name is discredited since 2012). * Current IMA regulations do not allow substances of anthropogenic origin (burning coal mine dumps, coal mine fires, slag, etc.) to be validated as a mineral species. Since 1998, the majority of polymorphs (especially polytypes and polytypoids) are not regarded as separate mineral species anymore. * IMA/CNMNC identifiers are usually written without space, as years don't get meaningful hits on Google search. * "The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana" (8 ed.) was the reference of CNMNC/CNMMN's (IMA) initial work. At the
Kobe Kobe ( , ; officially , ) is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture Japan. With a population around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. It is located in Kansai region, whic ...
2006 general meeting, the IMA council endorsed the creation of an Internet site on minerals ('rruff.info/ima'). So a Master List was needed and the older minerals were reviewed in a document of 130 pages. The final GQN List was published (grandfathered, questionable and published without approval) after a final review of Burke E A J and Nickel E H (approved decision: 'IMA2006-C'). Not only the well established minerals before 1959 was grandfathered (G), but the minerals that could not be discredited as well. The merging of the 'ARD List' (approved, revalidated and discredited) with the 'GQN List' resulted in the first 'IMA/CNMNC List of Mineral Names'. The 2007 draft of the 'IMA/CNMNC List of Mineral Names' was a courtesy of the Materials Data, Inc. (MDI), its 2009 review had important modifications. The RRUFF database was built with the help of the MDI's 2007 draft, the IMA Master List is an update of the MDI's 2009 review. Some grandfathered minerals had their status changed to approved afterwards, based on IMA approved reports. Note: the list of approved minerals was revised with 'The New IMA List of Minerals (September 2012)'. * The IMA was founded in a meeting in Madrid (1958). The CNMMN (now CNMNC) was one of the original eight commissions, it was founded in 1959. Not all grandfathered mineral were first described prior to 1959. Hatrurite, a phase in cement clinker (
alite Alite is an impure form of tricalcium silicate, , sometimes formulated as ( in cement chemist notation), typically with 3-4% of substituent oxides. It is the major, and characteristic, phase in Portland cement. The name was given by Törnebohm in ...
, C3S), was first described in 1977, for instance. * Some mineral names were revised; this changed their first letters. Sodium-pharmacosiderite is now natropharmacosiderite, natroapophyllite is now
fluorapophyllite Apophyllite-(KF) or fluorapophyllite is a mineral of the apophyllite group, with the chemical formula of KCa4Si8O20(F,OH)·8(H2O). It gets the first half of its name, "fluor", from containing more fluorine than hydroxide compared to the other min ...
-(Na), for instance. But 2010,
hydroxylapatite Hydroxyapatite, also called hydroxylapatite (HA), is a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite with the formula Ca5(PO4)3(OH), but it is usually written Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 to denote that the crystal unit cell comprises two entities. ...
,
fluorapatite Fluorapatite, often with the alternate spelling of fluoroapatite, is a phosphate mineral with the formula Ca5(PO4)3F (calcium fluorophosphate). Fluorapatite is a hard crystalline solid. Although samples can have various color (green, brown, bl ...
, fluorellestadite and
chlorapatite Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite, with high concentrations of OH−, F− and Cl− ions, respectively, in the crystal. The formula of the admixture of the three most common en ...
had their old names reinstated. *Everything is slower on
earth science Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch of science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biological complex constitutions and synergistic linkages of Earth's four spheres ...
s,
geology 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 Ear ...
,
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 ...
: **
Georgius Agricola Georgius Agricola (; born Georg Pawer or Georg Bauer; 24 March 1494 – 21 November 1555) was a German Humanist scholar, mineralogist and metallurgist. Born in the small town of Glauchau, in the Electorate of Saxony of the Holy Roman Empir ...
's De re metallica libri xii though apparently finished in 1550, was published 1556 (the author died 1555). ** Some IMA/CNMNC (1959–2000) approved minerals had their complete description published only 2012: 'IMA1998-018' ( fluornatromicrolite, published 2011), 'IMA1987-046a' ( ferrolaueite, published 2012), 'IMA1978-064' (approval probably based on fake data), 'IMA1977-006' ( whelanite, published 2012) and 'IMA1968-003' (discredited, 'IMA2008-B'). 'IMA1995-025' was listed as well, a mistake ( natroglaucocerinite, published 1995). ** The paper of Armbruster et al. (2006) misunderstood the naming rules and renamed a well established mineral name (
hancockite Epidote is a calcium aluminium iron sorosilicate mineral. Description Well developed crystals of epidote, Ca2Al2(Fe3+;Al)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH), crystallizing in the monoclinic system, are of frequent occurrence: they are commonly prismatic in habi ...
). Hatert et al. (2013) modified the naming rules. and proposal IMA2015 s.p. was accepted, reverting the renaming. ** Sample: bergenite was discredited as a barium bearing mineral variety of
phosphuranylite Phosphuranylite is a uranyl phosphate mineral with formula KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4·8(H2O). It was first described in 1879 by Frederick Augustus Genth, from an occurrence in the Flat Rock pegmatite in Mitchell County, North Carolina Mitchell ...
(IMA1962 s.p., special procedure). So phosphuranylite was already a valid mineral, and it is listed in the Michael Fleischer's mineral list (1966). Both are listed as grandfathered minerals as they are not listed in the 'ARD List' (approved, revalidated and discredited minerals; 2004). ** The review and approval of new mineral is straight forward most of the time, but there are exceptions. Proposal IMA2009-096 was not accepted, proposal IMA2009-096a was approved as
fontarnauite Fontarnauite is a relatively recently described, rare sulfate, borate mineral with the chemical formula . It is found in an evaporite boron deposit. It coexists with other evaporite boron minerals, especially probertite. It is monoclinic, crystal ...
(6.DA.60) in 2014. Proposal IMA1995-020 was not accepted, proposal IMA1995-020c was approved as jarandolite (6.CB.25). ** Every year some valid names get discredited (in the broader sense). *** Tohdite (hydrous alumina) was conditionally approved as 'IMA2004-051'. But the re-examination of the holotype material of
akdalaite Akdalaite ( IMA symbol: Akd) is a very rare mineral found in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the ...
((Al2O3)5·H2O, 'IMA1969-002') from the
Fersman Mineralogical Museum ) , native_name = , native_name_lang = , logo = , logo_upright = , logo_alt = , logo_caption = , image = Fersman Mineralogical Museum.JPG , image_upright = , a ...
in Moscow showed that both minerals were identical (
space group In mathematics, physics and chemistry, a space group is the symmetry group of an object in space, usually in three dimensions. The elements of a space group (its symmetry operations) are the rigid transformations of an object that leave it unchan ...
was corrected). *** Tellurocanfieldite was conditionally approved as 'IMA2012-013'. Its approval was withdrawn as further studies showed it to be a Te-rich variety of
canfieldite Canfieldite is a rare silver tin sulfide mineral with formula: Ag8SnS6. The mineral typically contains variable amounts of germanium substitution in the tin site and tellurium in the sulfur site. There is a complete series between canfieldite and ...
(Y: 1894, 2.BA.70). * Some old minerals were known before their 20th century names were first published.


Miscellany

* Current regulations do not allow a new mineral name to honour a person a second time. But there are exceptions:
Jöns Jakob Berzelius Jöns is a Swedish given name and a surname. Notable people with the given name include: * Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1779–1848), Swedish chemist * Jöns Budde (1435–1495), Franciscan friar from the Brigittine monastery in NaantaliVallis Gratiae ...
(1779–1848) (
berzelianite Berzelianite is a rare copper selenide mineral with the formula Cu2 Se. It occurs as thin dendritic crusts or as fine-grained inclusions. It crystallizes in the isometric system, unlike its dimorph, bellidoite, which crystallizes in the tetrag ...
, berzeliite and berzeline (now
haüyne Hauyne or haüyne, also called hauynite or haüynite ( ), is a tectosilicate sulfate mineral with endmember formula . As much as 5 wt % may be present, and also and Cl. It is a feldspathoid and a member of the sodalite group. Hauyne was firs ...
));
Pierre Berthier Pierre Berthier (; 3 July 1782, Nemours, Seine-et-Marne – 24 August 1861) was a French geologist and mining engineer. Pierre Berthier was born in Nemours. After studying at the École Polytechnique, he went to the École des Mines, where he b ...
(1782–1861) (
berthierine Serpentine subgroup (part of the kaolinite-serpentine group in the category of phyllosilicates) are greenish, brownish, or spotted minerals commonly found in serpentinite. They are used as a source of magnesium and asbestos, and as decorative ...
and
berthierite Berthierite is a mineral, a sulfide of iron and antimony with formula FeSb2S4. It is steel grey in colour with a metallic lustre which can be covered by an iridescent tarnish. Because of its appearance it is often mistaken for stibnite. It was ...
); Andor von Semsey (1833–1923) (
andorite Andorite is a sulfosalt minerals, sulfosalt mineral with the chemical formula PbAgSb3S6. It was first described in 1892 for an occurrence in the Baia Sprie mine, Baia Sprie, in what is now Maramureș County, Romania, and named for Hungarian amate ...
IV, andorite VI and
semseyite Semseyite is a rarely occurring sulfosalt mineral and is part of the class of lead antimony sulfides. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the chemical composition Pb9Sb8S21. The mineral forms dark gray to black aggregates. Etymology ...
); Brian Harold Mason (1917–2009) ( brianite and stenhuggarite); Caleb Wroe Wolfe (1908–1980) ( wolfeite and wroewolfeite) and Leo Neal Yedlin (1908–1977) ( yedlinite and nealite). The regulation does not affect mineral series and other variations (prefix iso, hexa, ortho, tetra, clino, meta, para, pseudo etc.). For instance:
Karl Hugo Strunz Karl Hugo Strunz (24 February 1910 – 19 April 2006) was a German mineralogist. He is best known for creating the Nickel-Strunz classification, the ninth edition of which was published together with Ernest Henry Nickel. Biography Strunz was bor ...
(1910–2006) ( strunzite group); George P. Merrill (1854–1929) (
merrillite Merrillite is a calcium phosphate mineral with the chemical formula Ca9NaMg(PO4)7. It is an anhydrous, sodium-rich member of the merrillite ''group'' of minerals. Mineral species, sub-group and group Merrillite is a distinct '' mineral species'' ...
series,
whitlockite Whitlockite is a mineral, an unusual form of Tricalcium phosphate, calcium phosphate. Its formula is Ca9(Mgiron, Fe)(PO4)6PO3Ohydrogen, H. It is a relatively rare mineral but is found in granitic pegmatites, phosphate rock deposits, guano caves a ...
group); Edward S. Grew (Ph.D. 1971) ( edgrewite series,
humite Humite is a mineral found in the volcanically ejected masses of Vesuvius Mount Vesuvius ( ; it, Vesuvio ; nap, 'O Vesuvio , also or ; la, Vesuvius , also , or ) is a somma-stratovolcano located on the Gulf of Naples in Campania, Ital ...
group). *
Standard temperature and pressure Standard temperature and pressure (STP) are standard sets of conditions for experimental measurements to be established to allow comparisons to be made between different sets of data. The most used standards are those of the International Union o ...
(STP). **
Silicate perovskite Silicate perovskite is either (the magnesium end-member is called bridgmanite) or ( calcium silicate known as davemaoite) when arranged in a perovskite structure. Silicate perovskites are not stable at Earth's surface, and mainly exist in the l ...
s,
argentite In mineralogy, argentite (from the Latin ''argentum'', silver) is cubic silver sulfide (Ag2S), which can only exist at temperatures above 173 °C, 177 °C or 179 °C. When it cools to ordinary temperatures it turns into its monocl ...
and β-quartz are not valid minerals, as they do not occur on Earth's surface (STP). The type material of
bridgmanite Silicate perovskite is either (the magnesium end-member is called bridgmanite) or (calcium silicate known as davemaoite) when arranged in a perovskite structure. Silicate perovskites are not stable at Earth's surface, and mainly exist in the l ...
is from a meteorite. Some minerals are unstable on Earth's surface (
metastability In chemistry and physics, metastability denotes an intermediate energetic state within a dynamical system other than the system's state of least energy. A ball resting in a hollow on a slope is a simple example of metastability. If the ball i ...
):
diamond Diamond is a Allotropes of carbon, solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the Chemical stability, chemically stable form of car ...
s,
cohenite Cohenite is a naturally occurring iron carbide mineral with the chemical structure ( Fe, Ni, Co)3 C. This forms a hard, shiny, silver mineral which was named by E. Weinschenk in 1889 after the German mineralogist Emil Cohen, who first described ...
and
haxonite Haxonite is an iron nickel carbide mineral found in iron meteorites and carbonaceous chondrites. It has a chemical formula of , crystallises in the cubic crystal system and has a Mohs hardness of - 6. It was first described in 1971, and named af ...
, for instance.
Acanthite Acanthite is a form of silver sulfide with the chemical formula Ag2S. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and is the stable form of silver sulfide below . Argentite is the stable form above that temperature. As argentite cools below that tem ...
var. argentite (a
pseudomorph In mineralogy, a pseudomorph is a mineral or mineral compound that appears in an atypical form (crystal system), resulting from a substitution process in which the appearance and dimensions remain constant, but the original mineral is replaced by ...
after argentite) and β-quartz pseudomorphs are sometimes sold. ** Ramdohr (1936) discovered that the
type material In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes t ...
of schapbachite (Ag0.4Pb0.2Bi0.4S) was a mixture of
galena Galena, also called lead glance, is the natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS). It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver. Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It cryst ...
(PbS) and matildite (AgBiS2). It was discredited (1982) as it was found unstable at 'standard temperature and pressure' (STP). It was revalidated (2004) as Pb-bearing schabachite is stable at STP. The type locality is not Schapbach now, but Silberbrünnle mine, Gengenbach; both
Black Forest The Black Forest (german: Schwarzwald ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is t ...
localities. ** Epsilon iron,
hexagonal close-packed In geometry, close-packing of equal spheres is a dense arrangement of congruent spheres in an infinite, regular arrangement (or lattice). Carl Friedrich Gauss proved that the highest average density – that is, the greatest fraction of space occu ...
(HCP) phase of iron is stable only at extremely high pressure. It can be found as a mineral (chemical formula: ). * It is not only schapbachite that had a longer controversy. Other minerals have a complicated history, as well. **
Imogolite Imogolite is an aluminium silicate clay mineral with the chemical formula . It occurs in soils formed from volcanic ash and was first described in 1962 for an occurrence in Uemura, Kumamoto prefecture, Kyushu Region, Japan. Its name originates fro ...
, 9.ED.20, was first published 1962. Its formal discreditation by the IMA was published 1967, as its description was incomplete. The IMA referred it to the AIPEA (''Association Internationale Pour l'Étude des Argiles'') for advice and it was approved by the AIPEA (Nomenclature Committee) at its Tokyo meeting (1970). Fleischer (1983) described it as a variety of
allophane Allophane is an amorphous to poorly crystalline hydrous aluminium silicate clay mineraloid. Its chemical formula is Al2O3·(SiO2)1.3-2·(2.5-3)H2O. Since it has short-range atomic order, it is a mineraloid, rather than a mineral, and can be ident ...
and it was finally redefined and approved by the IMA/CNMNC 1986. *** Amorphous allophane,
nanotube A nanotube is a nanometer-scale hollow tube-like structure. Kinds of nanotubes * BCN nanotube, composed of comparable amounts of boron, carbon, and nitrogen atoms * Boron nitride nanotube, a polymorph of boron nitride * Carbon nanotube, includes g ...
-like imogolite (),
halloysite Halloysite is an aluminosilicate clay mineral with the empirical formula Al2Si2O5(OH)4. Its main constituents are oxygen (55.78%), silicon (21.76%), aluminium (20.90%), and hydrogen (1.56%). Halloysite typically forms by hydrothermal alteration ...
-10Å (), halloysite-7Å () and
gibbsite Gibbsite, Al(OH)3, is one of the mineral forms of aluminium hydroxide. It is often designated as γ-Al(OH)3 (but sometimes as α-Al(OH)3.). It is also sometimes called hydrargillite (or hydrargyllite). Gibbsite is an important ore of aluminiu ...
() are thought to be products of
tuff Tuff is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected from a vent during a volcanic eruption. Following ejection and deposition, the ash is lithified into a solid rock. Rock that contains greater than 75% ash is considered tuff, while rock cont ...
weathering Weathering is the deterioration of rocks, soils and minerals as well as wood and artificial materials through contact with water, atmospheric gases, and biological organisms. Weathering occurs ''in situ'' (on site, with little or no movement), ...
. ** Betalommosovite was described by Gerasimovskiy and Kazakova (1962) and discredited by the IMA-CNMMN (IMA1967 s.p.). It was published without approval and listed as discredited on the 'IMA/CNMNC List of Mineral Names' (2009). Later, betalomonosovite was revalidated (IMA2014-J). ** Jichengite as xinghuaite (IMA1984-047) was rejected by the IMA-CNMMN. Jichengite (IMA1994-039) was rejected by the IMA-CNMMN, as well. Unfortunately, it was published without approval in 2011. **UM1991-//-COF:BaCaCe (IMA1989-012), a calcium analogue of cordylite-(Ce) from Bayan Obo mine, had the approval procedure suspended by
Joseph A. Mandarino Joseph (Joe) Anthony Mandarino Order of Canada, OC, Royal Society of Canada, FRSC (20 April 1929 in Chicago, Illinois – 19 September 2007) was an American-Canadian mineralogist and crystallography, crystallographer. Early life and education J ...
, because of the cerium dominant cordylite (IMA2000-C). *Other curiosities: ** Niggliite (former 1.AG.60, year: 1938), sorosite (former 1.AC.15, IMA1994-047), yuanjiangite (former 1.AC.15, IMA1993-028) are not classified as tin alloys (PGE-metal alloys and indium-tin family) in ''Fleischer's Glossary''. But, they are stannide minerals (nickeline mineral group), sulfide mineral class there. ** Tiragalloite (9.BJ.25, IMA1969-061, ), is an arsenosilicate and grenmarite (9.BE.25, IMA2003-024, ) is a zirconium silicate (analogous to the more common
aluminosilicate Aluminosilicate minerals ( IMA symbol: Als) are minerals composed of aluminium, silicon, and oxygen, plus countercations. They are a major component of kaolin and other clay minerals. Andalusite, kyanite, and sillimanite are naturally occurr ...
s, borosilicates and titanium silicates). **Mostly anthropogenic minerals: abhurite (3.DA.30), lausenite (7.CB.70), guildite (7.DC.30),
hoelite Hoelite is a mineral, discovered in 1922 at Mt. Pyramide, Spitsbergen, Norway and named after Norwegian geologist Adolf Hoel (1879–1964). Its chemical formula is C14H8O2 (9,10-anthraquinone). It is a very rare organic mineral which occurs in ...
(10.CA.15), calclacite (10.AA.25). **
Studtite Studtite, chemical formula UO2)O2(H2O)22(H2O) or UO4·4(H2O), is a secondary uranium mineral containing peroxide formed by the alpha-radiolysis of water during formation. It occurs as pale yellow to white needle-like crystals often in acicular, ...
(4.GA.15, year: 1947) is the first peroxide mineral, the
facies In geology, a facies ( , ; same pronunciation and spelling in the plural) is a body of rock with specified characteristics, which can be any observable attribute of rocks (such as their overall appearance, composition, or condition of formatio ...
radioactivity generate peroxide. ** Ianthinite (4.GA.10, year: 1926), U(IV) is one of the constituents of the mineral), it gets a layer of
schoepite Schoepite, empirical formula (UO2)8O2(OH)12•12(H2O) is a rare alteration product of uraninite in hydrothermal uranium deposits. It may also form directly from ianthinite. The mineral presents as a transparent to translucent yellow, lemon yello ...
/ metaschoepite in the presence of oxygen. **
Polyoxometalate In chemistry, a polyoxometalate (abbreviated POM) is a polyatomic ion, usually an anion, that consists of three or more transition metal oxyanions linked together by shared oxygen atoms to form closed 3-dimensional frameworks. The metal atoms are ...
s: *** Menezesite (4.FN.05, IMA2005-023) and aspedamite (IMA2011-056), are the only natural heteropolyniobates known. *** Ophirite (IMA2013-017) is a mineral with a heteropolytungstate tri-lacunary keggin anion. *** Melcherite (IMA2015-018) and peterandresenite (IMA2012-084) have a lindqvist anion. **Inosilicate, biopyriboles: *** Jimthompsonite (IMA1977-011) is a triple chain inosilicate. *** Chesterite (IMA1977-010) is a connected double chain inosilicate. **Inosilicate, double dreier chains: ***
Xonotlite Xonotlite, or eakleite, is a mineral of general formula named by the German mineralogist Karl Friedrich August Rammelsberg in 1866. The name originates from its discovery locality, Tetela de Xonotla, Puebla, Mexico. Although it was discovered i ...
(Y: 1866) is an inosilicate with double dreier chains. *** Chivruaiite (IMA2004-052) is an inosilicate double dreier chains of (SiO4) tetrahedra. ***
Zorite Zorite is a silicate mineral with the chemical formula of . It is named because of its pink color, after the Russian word "zoria" which refers to the rosy hue of the sky at dawn.
(IMA1972-011) is an inosilicate double dreier chains of (SiO4) tetrahedra. *** Haineaultite (IMA1997-015) is an inosilicate double dreier chains of (SiO4) tetrahedra. **Other inosilicates: *** Veblenite (IMA2010-050) has a veblenite ribbon (Si8O22). *** Yangite (IMA2012-052) is an inosilicate with two-connected double chain. *** Yegorovite (IMA2008-033) is an inosilicate with single zig-zag chains of Si tetrahedra. **
Icosahedrite Icosahedrite is the first known naturally occurring quasicrystal phase. It has the composition Al63Cu24Fe13 and is a mineral approved by the International Mineralogical Association in 2010. Its discovery followed a 10-year-long systematic search ...
(IMA2010-042), the only natural quasicrystal known. ** Comancheite (IMA2013-B/ IMA1980-077, former 3.DD.65) is a mercury nitride mineral now. **α-
Sulfur Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formula ...
(old); chemical formula unit with 1 atom; unit cell with 128 formula units (Z). ** Whitecapsite (IMA2012-030), chemical formula: H16Fe2+5Fe3+14Sb3+6(AsO4)18O16·120H2O; unit cell with 1 formula unit (Z). ** Megacyclite (9.CP.10, IMA1991-015); chemical formula unit with 111 atoms; unit cell with 4 formula units (Z). ** Labyrinthite (9.CO.10, IMA2002-065); chemical formula unit with 278.5 atoms; unit cell with 3 formula units (Z). ** Ashcroftine-(Y) (9.DN.15, year: 1933); chemical formula unit with 180 atoms; unit cell with 4 formula units (Z).


Notes

* Attention with the
amphiboles Amphibole () is a group of inosilicate minerals, forming prism or needlelike crystals, composed of double chain tetrahedra, linked at the vertices and generally containing ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structures. Its IMA symbol is A ...
: some mineral names have been redefined (IMA2012 s.p. was the last revision), some even more than once; i.e. their chemical formula range changed. For example, aluminotaramite ('IMA2006-023', 9.DE.20) is a synonym of ferro-taramite, sodic-ferri-ferropedrizite (IMA2003 s.p., 9.DE.25) was renamed to ferro-ferri-pedrizite, ehimeite is a synonym of chromio-pargasite ('IMA2011-023', 9.DE.15), kôzulite is a synonym of mangano-arfvedsonite ('IMA1968-028', 9.DE.25) and kornite is a synonym of potassic-mangani-leakeite ('IMA1992-032', 9.DE.25). *Some IMA-CNMNC approved minerals have a questionable status on mineralienatlas.de, but their unit cell parameters are given on mindat.org (or vice versa). Their status here doesn't change, it remains 'approved mineral'. *The mineral systematic given on Nickel-Strunz (9 and 10 ed) is not controversial. Dmisteinbergite (
feldspar Feldspars are a group of rock-forming aluminium tectosilicate minerals, also containing other cations such as sodium, calcium, potassium, or barium. The most common members of the feldspar group are the ''plagioclase'' (sodium-calcium) feldsp ...
, 9.EG.15), uranyl sorovanadates (4.HD. ids) and silica family (4.DA. ids) are some exceptions, for instance. * Great care must be taken with definitions and their redefinitions. There is a difference between rocks, natural minerals and chemical compounds. Some examples: rocksalt (a redirect),
halite Halite (), commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt, the mineral (natural) form of sodium chloride ( Na Cl). Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, p ...
and sodium chloride; kaolin earth (a redirect) and
kaolinite Kaolinite ( ) is a clay mineral, with the chemical composition Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4. It is an important industrial mineral. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet of silica () linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral ...
; apatite, strict sense (
chlorapatite Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite, with high concentrations of OH−, F− and Cl− ions, respectively, in the crystal. The formula of the admixture of the three most common en ...
,
fluorapatite Fluorapatite, often with the alternate spelling of fluoroapatite, is a phosphate mineral with the formula Ca5(PO4)3F (calcium fluorophosphate). Fluorapatite is a hard crystalline solid. Although samples can have various color (green, brown, bl ...
and
hydroxylapatite Hydroxyapatite, also called hydroxylapatite (HA), is a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite with the formula Ca5(PO4)3(OH), but it is usually written Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 to denote that the crystal unit cell comprises two entities. ...
), apatite group and apatite supergroup; kaolinite-serpentine group (alias serpentine),
serpentine subgroup Serpentine subgroup (part of the kaolinite-serpentine group in the category of phyllosilicates) are greenish, brownish, or spotted minerals commonly found in serpentinite. They are used as a source of magnesium and asbestos, and as decorative s ...
, serpentinization and
serpentinite Serpentinite is a rock composed predominantly of one or more serpentine group minerals, the name originating from the similarity of the texture of the rock to that of the skin of a snake. Serpentinite has been called ''serpentine'' or ''ser ...
; olivine structural group (after rruff.nfo/ima); olivine group and
olivine The mineral olivine () is a magnesium iron silicate with the chemical formula . It is a type of nesosilicate or orthosilicate. The primary component of the Earth's upper mantle, it is a common mineral in Earth's subsurface, but weathers quickl ...
(a fosterite var.);
spessartine Spessartine is a nesosilicate, manganese aluminium garnet species, Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3.Gemological Institute of America, ''GIA Gem Reference Guide'' 1995, This mineral is sometimes mistakenly referred to as ''spessartite''. Spessartine's name is a ...
(a
garnet Garnets () are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. All species of garnets possess similar physical properties and crystal forms, but differ in chemical composition. The different s ...
) and spessartite (a lamprophyre); iron (element), telluric iron (alias native iron) and meteoric iron; phyllosilicate minerals (alias sheet silicates) and clays;
pyrochlore Pyrochlore () is a mineral group of the niobium end member of the pyrochlore supergroup. The general formula, (where A and B are metals), represent a family of phases isostructural to the mineral pyrochlore. Pyrochlores are an important class of ...
(invalid mineral name since 2010), pyrochlore group and pyrochlore supergroup; antimony and stibnite (alias antimonite); etc. * The data of a mineral on the databases is similar but not equal. For instance: ** Opal is a valid IMA/CNMNC name but it is a mineraloid (a mixture of cristobalite and/or tridymite and amorphous silica), it has a page on Mindat.org and Webmineral.com but not on the Handbook of Mineralogy. *** Ice, Mercury (element), mercury (low melting point); allophane, delvauxite, hisingerite (amorphous/ poorly cristalline); actinolite, augite, omphacite, sanidine (intermediate member of a
solid solution A solid solution, a term popularly used for metals, is a homogenous mixture of two different kinds of atoms in solid state and have a single crystal structure. Many examples can be found in metallurgy, geology, and solid-state chemistry. The word ...
series) are IMA/CNMNC valid names too. The reasons can be inherited pre-IMA status, practical reasons or entrenchment in the literature, including medical and legal usage. ** OligoclaseI is an albite variety on Mindat.org and it has pages on the Handbook of Minerals and Webmineral.com, see 'List of minerals (synonyms)' (plagioclase/albite-anorthite series). It is not the only intermediate member of a solid solution series with a page on the Handbook of Mineralogy (List of minerals (synonyms)#Mineral varieties, mineral varieties). ** The Handbook of Mineralogy has pages on clinochrysotile, orthochrysotile and parachrysotile, but not on chrysotile; but they are polytypes of chrysotile, see 'List of minerals (synonyms)'. ** Mindat.org uses to give the chemical formula of some minerals as a range (between parentheses, if tin dominant then herzenbergite: ; otherwise teallite: (), on the other side the IMA Database of Mineral Properties/ Rruff Project uses to give the ideal chemical formula of the solid solution end member (herzenbergite: SnS). ***The given chemical names are a compromise for information purposes, being based on the Nickel-Strunz code too. Most of the time the chemical formula on rruff.info was used, sometimes the simpler one on mindat.org. To illustrate it: bartonite, (mindat.org), (rruff.info); bayleyite, (mindat.org), (rruff.info) and bredigite, (mindat.org), (rruff.info). ***Caution with the chemical formula units of silicates and their "formula masses". Some molecules have a repeating unit, these might be chains, networks, polymers, and so the true molecule might be a multiple of the smallest repeating unit (the unit cell of a crystal is formed by repeating 'Z' times the chemical formula). Examples: wadsleyite () a sorosilicate and high pressure polymorph of forsterite and ringwoodite; leucophanite (), but it has Nickel-Strunz identifier 9.DH.05 (inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, ); clinoenstatite (), but it has Nickel-Strunz identifier 9.DA.10 (inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, ); scolecite (), but it has Nickel-Strunz identifier 9.GA.05 (zeolites with units – the fibrous zeolites); mogánite (), but it has Nickel-Strunz identifier 4.DA.20 (oxides with small cations: silica family). *The existence in nature of some questionable/ doubtful minerals is very unlikely at all or at the Type locality (geology), type locality. For example, magnesium chloride, chloromagnesiteQ (Y: 1872, MgCl2) 3.AB.20 and zinc sulfate, zinkositeQ (Y: 1852, ZnSO4) 7.AB.10. *Some names are not names of minerals anymore, but names of a group of minerals: **Micas, biotite group.No Webmineral reference ***The IMA/CNMMN, Subcommittee on Nomenclature of the Micas (1998, 1999) has recommended that the name biotite be used for a series including phlogopite, siderophyllite, annite and eastonite. **Zeolites: chabazite group,;No Webmineral reference dachiardite group,;No Handbook of Mineralogy reference heulandite group.No Webmineral reference ** List of minerals (synonyms)#Pyrochlore supergroup, Pyrochlore supergroup: *** The pyrochlore supergroup was revised in 2010. The update of the databases isn't complete, yet. ***Groups:
pyrochlore Pyrochlore () is a mineral group of the niobium end member of the pyrochlore supergroup. The general formula, (where A and B are metals), represent a family of phases isostructural to the mineral pyrochlore. Pyrochlores are an important class of ...
,; Romeite, roméite,; betafite,; microlite,; elsmoreite.Mindat.org - Elsmoreite group
/ref>


Nomenclature dictionary

;Special minerals (relaxed sense) *Native elements (class 1): carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides, elements, alloys, amalgams *Special minerals (strict sense): tellurium(VI) oxysalts ([Te6+Ox], trioxotellurate(IV) tetraoxotellurate(VI) [Te4+O3][Te6+O4]) ;"Ore" minerals (sulfides and oxides) *Sulfide class (class 2): sulfides [S], selenides [Se], tellurides [Te], arsenides [As], antimonides [Sb], bismuthides [Bi], sulfantimonides [SbxSy], sulfarsenides [AsxSy], sulfbismuthides [BixSy], sulfastannides [SnxSy], plumboarsenide [], plumbobismuthide [] *Oxide class (class 4): sulfites(IV) [SO3]2−, selenites(IV) [SeO3]2−, iodates [IO3], trioxotellurate(IV) [Te4+O3]2−, dihydroxotellurate(IV) [Te4+O(OH)2], pentaoxoditellurate(IV) [(Te4+)2O5]2−, vanadyl anion [V4+O2]2- ;Evaporite and similar minerals *Halide class (class 3): fluoride [F], chloride [Cl], bromide [Br], iodide [I], tetrafluoroborates [BF4], hexafluorosilicates [SiF6], hexachlorothallate(III) [Tl3+Cl6] *Carbonate and nitrate class (class 5): carbonates [CO3], bicarbonate [HCO3] **Nitrates (subclass 5.N): nitrates [NO3] *Borate class (class 6): metaborates [B2O4], trioxoborate [BO3], tetrahydroborate [B(OH)4] ;Mineral structures with a tetrahedral unit, monomeric minerals *Sulfate class (class 7), monomeric minerals: sulfates [SO4]2−, tungstates [WO4]2−, niobates [NbO4]2−, molybdates [MoO4]2−, chromates [CrO4]2−, tetraoxotantalate [TaO4], thiosulphates [SO3S]2− *Phosphate class (class 8), monomeric minerals: phosphates(V) [PO4]3−, arsenates(V) [AsO4]3−, vanadates(V) [VO4]3−, hydroxophosphates(V) [PO3OH]2−, dihydroxophosphates(V) [PO2(OH)2], hydroxoarsenates(V) [AsO3OH]2−, dihydroxoarsenates(V) [AsO2(OH)2] *Nesosilicates (subclass 9.A), monomeric minerals: tetraoxosilicate [SiO4], hydrotrioxosilicate [SiO3OH] ;Mineral structures with a tetrahedral unit, di- and chain silicates *Sorosilicates (subclass 9.B): heptaoxodisilicate [Si2O7], hydrohexaoxodisilicate [Si2O6OH], tetraoxosilicate heptaoxodisilicate [SiO4][Si2O7], decaoxotrisilicate [Si3O10], undecaoxotetrasilicate [Si4O11] *Inosilicates (subclass 9.D): **Single-chain inosilicates: pyroxenes **Double-chain inosilicates: amphiboles **Other inosilicates: ;Mineral structures with a tetrahedral unit, framework silicates *Cyclosilicates (subclass 9.C): *Phyllosilicates (subclass 9.E): *Tridimensional silicate frameworks: tectosilicates (subclass 9.F) **Silica family (class 4, family DA): dioxosilicate [SiO2] *Tectosilicates, zeolites (subclass 9.G): ;Mineral structures with a tetrahedral unit, other cases *Dimeric and polymeric minerals, phosphate and sulfate class: polyphosphates, polyoxometalates, hexaniobates [Nb6O19], pyrophosphates [P2O7], pyroarsenates [As2O7], decavanadates [V10O28] ;Other cases (relaxed sense) *Organic minerals, salts of organic acids (class 10, division A): oxalates, citrates, acetates, formiate *Cations: divalent [dimercury] , uranyl , ammonium , tetramethylammonium *Other building blocks: stannide alloys [Sn], aluminide alloys [Al], aluminosilicates, borosilicates, aluminoborosilicates, paddlewheel cluster [e.g.: uranyl-tricarbonate cluster ]


Gallery

File:H2O-NaCl-phase-diagram-greek.svg, Halite/ hydrohalite phase diagram File:An-Wo-Sp-phase-diagram-greek.svg, Ternary phase diagram: anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8), wollastonite (CaSiO3) and titanite (CaTiSiO5) File:Sulfur phase diagram.svg,
Sulfur Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formula ...
/ β-sulfur diagram, rosickyite turns slowly to α-sulfur at room temperature File:Carbon basic phase diagram.png, Theoretically predicted phase diagram of carbon File:Biotit Mischkristallreihe.jpg, Biotite series (micas)


See also

* Classification of minerals - Non silicates * Classification of minerals - Silicates * Geology * List of critical mineral raw materials * List of rock types *
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 ...
* Mineraloid * rock (geology), Rock


Further reading

* * * * * * * Note: known as An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals, DHZ.


Notes


References

*Web: rruff.info/ima/, 'IMA database of mineral properties' switchboard: **'Not an IMA approved mineral' tag – E.g. buserite **'Discredited' mineral tag – E.g. bindheimite **'Pending publication' tag – E.g. drobecite (IMA 2002-034) **'Questionable mineral species' tag – E.g. shubnikovite


External links


Mindat.org
the mineral database
Webmineral.comMineralatlas.eu
{{Strunz Minerals, List02 Mineralogy, *List02 Geology-related lists, Minerals02