I presume that most rockhounds are serious users of Mineral Database and have noted that descriptions of minerals now include Mineral Symbols. MinDat states, “as of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams. Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol.” For example, pyrite (FeS2) has a symbol of Py while the potassium feldspar microcline (K(AlSi3O8) has a symbol of Mcc. Warr (2021), in defining the naming process stated, “this contribution presents the first International Mineralogical Association (IMA) Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) approved collection of 5744 mineral name abbreviations…{that standardize} abbreviations by employing a system compatible with that used for symbolising the chemical elements.” The Commission also continues to approve symbols for new minerals as they are officially described. For example, in 2023 112 new minerals were approved. The American Mineralogist, on a regular basis, publishes articles listing, and briefly describing a few, new minerals appearing in the published record and approved by IMA. The latest listing that I could locate was a December 01, 2024 issue [American Mineralogist (2024) 109 (12): 2173–2175.] stating, “This issue of New Mineral Names provides a summary of the newly described minerals from May to August 2024, including karlseifertite, vegrandisite, touretite, auropolybasite, cuprozheshengite, calcioveatchite, and jianmuite.” A total of 29 new minerals were approved by the IMA-CNMNC from May to August 2024.
The American Mineralogist is the flagship subscription journal of the Mineralogical Society of America; however, the issues containing New Mineral Names, is a free issue. Use your browser to search for New Mineral Names to find the appropriate articles.
As of mid-July 2024, there are over 6000 valid minerals listed by the IMA! How are ole plugger rockhounds like me supposed to make sense of these thousands of minerals plus the new yearly additions? I have six suggestions/comments: 1) I don’t know the exact number but there are less than one hundred common rock forming minerals and learning about these is not an onerous proposition; 2) make MinDat your favorite web site; 3) most rockhounds will never have the opportunity to observe newly discovered minerals. Almost all new minerals need electronic gizmos located in research laboratories to validate their existence and many are organic or post-mining minerals; 4) consider subscribing to professional journals, of which there are many. I certainly cannot afford several subscriptions but have found University libraries to be a fantastic reference source, and some public libraries subscribe to popular journals such as Rock and Minerals, Rocks and Gems, and Mineralogical Record; and 6) if your local rock club has a mineral study group, sign up and attend the meetings.
Finally, if you are interested in seeing the official 2021 mineral list with their symbols just scan this QR Code:
