Naming New Minerals Lasalite, a recent example (Hughes et al., 2008)

Governing Body International Mineralogical Association (IMA) – Commission on new minerals, nomenclature, and classification (CNMNC) A mineral substance is a naturally occurring solid that has been formed by geological processes, either on earth or in extraterrestrial bodies (Nickel 1995a). A mineral species is a mineral substance with well defined chemical composition and crystallographic properties, and which merits a unique name.

Requirements for a new mineral Proposed name and reason for selection Description of occurrence Chemical composition (with method of analysis) Chemical fromula, emperical and simplified Crystallography (including crystal system, class, space group, point group, unit cell parameters, Z, and pertinent powder XRD data) Appearance and physical properties (size, color, streak, luster, transparency, hardness, cleavage, parting, fracture, density (measured and calculated)

Optical properties (transparent): – Isotropic/anisotropic, unixial/biaxial, optic sign, indices of refraction, 2V, dispersion, orientation, pleochroism, adsorption spectra. Optical properties (opaque): – Color in PPL, internal reflections, reflectance spectra, bireflectance, pleochroism, anisotropy Thermal behavior, infared spectrum, response to any chemical tests Relation to any other minerals Type material must also be designated, and a type sample committed to at least one major museum as a reference