The International Mineralogical Association (IMA) is the international group that recognises new minerals and new mineral names. However, minerals discovered before 1959 did not go through the official naming procedure although some minerals published previously have been either confirmed or discredited since that date.
Abbreviations: "*" – discredited (IMA/CNMNC status). "?" – questionable/doubtful (IMA/CNMNC, mindat.org or mineralienatlas.de status). N – published without approval of the IMA/CNMNC. I – intermediate member of a solid-solution series. H – hypothetical mineral (synthetic, anthropogenic, etc.) ch – incomplete description, hypothetical solid solution end member. group – a name used to designate a group of species, sometimes only a mineral group name. no – no link available. red. – redefinition of ... Y: 1NNN – year of publication. Y: old – known before publications were available. __TOC__
List of main synonyms Mainly renamed minerals and synonyms used by the Handbook of Mineralogy.IMA Database of Mineral Properties
A–E A Andorite IV: Quatrandorite; arrojadite-(BaFe): sigismundite; B Boldyrevite: UM1941-01-F:AlCaHMgNa; Britholite-(Ce): Lessingite-(Ce) C Chrysotile: Bostonite, Cyphoîte, Karystiolite, Krysolith, Kuphoite, Kupholite, Lefkasbestos, Picrosmine, Pikrosmin, Schweizerite, Ishkildite (var.); D E Epidote-(Pb): Hancockite;
F–L F Fraipontite: Zinalsite; Ferro-Ferritschermakite: Ferri-Ferrotschermakite; G Gagarinite-(Ce): Zajacite-(Ce) H Helvine: helvite; hinsdalite: orpheite; hydrokenoelsmoreite: alumotungstite, ferritungstite; hisingerite: sturtite; I
J Johnbaumite-M: fermorite, Jadeite; K Karpatite: pendletonite (CNMMN, 1971), carpathite and coronene L Litidionite: lithidionite
M–R M Manganohörnesite: manganese-hörnesite N Natrozippeite: sodium-zippeite; natroboltwoodite: sodium-boltwoodite; O Osmium: iridosmine (var.); P Pyrosmalite-Fe: Ferropyrosmalite Q Qingheiite: Qinghelite; Qitianlingite: Qitianglinite; Quartz: Azetulite, Azeztulite, Dragonite, Konilite, Lodolite, Quartz-alpha, Quertz; Quartz varieties: Agate, Amberine, Amethyst, Ametrine, Apricotine, Aventurine, Azurchalcedony, Basanite, Bayate, Beekite, Binghamite, Bloodstone, Buhrstone, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Chert, Chrysojasper, Citrine, Cotterite, Creolite, Cubosilicite, Dallasite, Damsonite, Darlingite, Diackethyst, Eisenkiesel, El Doradoite, Flint, Haytorite, Herbeckite, Irnimite, Jasper, Kinradite, Myrickite, Onyx, Pastelite, Prase, Prasiolite, Quartzine, Quetzalitztli, Ribbonstone, Sard, Sardonyx, Schwimmstein, Seftonite R Rutile: Cajuelite, Crispite, Dicksbergite, Edisonite, Gallitzinite, Paraedrite, Rutilite, Titankalk, Titanschorl; Rutile varieties: Ilmenorutile, Lusterite, Nigrine, Struverite; Römerite: Bückingite, Louderbackite, Roemerite;
S–Z S Stibiconite: hydroroméite; smolyaninovite: smolianinovite; sofiite: sophiite; T Tadzhikite-(Ce): Tadzhikite-(Y); tantalite-(Fe): ferrotantalite; tantalite-(Mn): manganotantalite U Uzonite: Usonite; V Veatchite-p: P-Veatchite; W
X Xanthoconite: Rittingerite, Xanthocone; Xonotlite: Calcium-Pectolite, Eakleite, Xenotlite, Xonaltite, Xonolite Y Yttrotungstite-(Ce): Cerotungstite-(Ce) Z
Mineral varieties Mainly minerals varieties used by the Handbook of Mineralogy.
Iridosmine*, an osmium variety, 01.AF.05 Plagioclase solid solution series: An0: albite; An20: oligoclase; An40: andesine; An60: labradorite; An80: bytownite; An100: anorthite Oligoclase, albite variety, 09.FA.35 Andesine, albite variety, 09.FA.35 Labradorite, anorthite variety, 09.FA.35 Bytownite, anorthite variety, 09.FA.35 Ilmenorutile, a rutile variety, 04.DB.05 Incaite*, a franckeite variety, 02.HF.25b Kamacite, a native iron variety, 01.AE.05 Kerolite* (discredited 1979), a Ni-bearing variety of talc (?), 09.EC.05, [no] Lewistonite* (discredited 1978), a carbonate-rich variety of fluorapatite, 08.BN.05 [no] Metaberyllite* (Y: 1973, discredited 2006), a variety of beryllite, 09.AE.05, [no] Potosiite*, a franckeite variety, 02.HF.25b Sakharovaite* (Y: 1956, discredited 2006), a Bi-bearing variety of jamesonite, 02.HB.15, Struverite*, a rutile variety, 04.DB.05
Doubtful procedures Unnamed minerals, controversial discreditations
Wolframoixiolite, a W-bearing variety of ixiolite, 04.DB.25; possibly a separate species. Scandian ixiolite (of von Knorring)N, a Nb-bearing variety of ixiolite, 04.DB.25; possibly a separate species. Scandian ixiolite (of Bergstol)N, a Sc-bearing variety of ixiolite, 04.DB.25; possibly a separate species. Ktenasite (Y: 1950) 07.DD.20, possibly a mineral group, under review (Leverett et al., 2009–2011). Unnamed (Zn-analogue of Ktenasite)N. Unnamed (Co-analogue of Ktenasite)N. Mg- or Cd-bearing varieties are also known. Loparite-(Ce) (Y: 1923) 04.CC.35, possibly a mineral group Mitchell R H, Burns P C, Chakhmouradian A R (2000) The crystal structures of loparite-(Ce), The Canadian Mineralogist 38, 145-152. Zubkova, N. V., Arakcheeva, A. V., Pushcharovskii, D. Y., Semenov, E. I., & Atencio, D. (2000). Crystal structure of loparite. Crystallography Reports, 45(2), 210-214. Calciogadolinite-Y? (Y: 1938) might be a calcian gadolinite. ClinotyroliteN (monoclinic), both minerals might belong to a mineral group since tyrolite was shown to be monoclinic (pseudo-orthorhombic). Yttromicrolite-(Y) within the framework of nomenclature of Hogarth (1977): discreditation was not made by proper way (in the course of defamation of Crook, 1982). Pimelite* (Y: 1800, 1938) a nickel dominant smectite, is under review. Associations: nickel-bearing talc, yellow green nickeloan nontronite, red brown hematite stained nontronite, bright white montmorillonite.Spangenberg, Kurt (1938) Die wasserhaltigen Nickelsilicate, Cent. Mineral. Abt. A., p. 360-364George T. Faust (1966) The Hydrous Nickel-Magnesium Silicates - The Garnierite Group, American Mineralogist, 51, p. 279-298 Tetranatrolite (discredited in 1999): might be identical to gonnardite, discreditation procedure apparently done without actually working on the type specimen or on any identified tetranatrolite itself.Lee, Yongjae, Hriljac, Joseph A., Parise, John B., and Vogt, Thomas (2006) Pressure-induced hydration in zeolite tetranatrolite. American Mineralogist: 91: 247-251.Seryotkin, Yu, V. & Bakakin, V.V. (2007) The reversibility of the paranatrolite-tetranatrolite transformation. European Journal of Mineralogy, 19, 593-598. Yftisite-(Y) (discredited in 1987): but apparently the cell parameters are known (Balko & Bakakin, 1975). Buserite (IMA1970-024): dehydrates to birnessite, known synthetic compound.Mindat.org - Buserite Zincobotryogen: it is discredited (IMA1967 s.p.) but its crystal structure has been solved (space group 14). Strontioborite: it is discredited (IMA1962 s.p.) but its crystal structure has been solved (space group 4). Aguilarite (Y: 1944, Ag4SeS, 2.BA.55): it might be two solid solution series, a monoclinic 'acanthite-like' series (from Ag2S - Ag2S0.4Se0.6), and an orthorhombic 'naumannite-like' series (from Ag2S0.3Se0.7 - Ag2Se).Bindi, L. & Pingitore, N.E. (2013) On the symmetry and crystal structure of aguilarite, Ag4SeS. Mineralogican Magazine, 77, 21-31
Controversial chemical formulas (IMA Master List) (and/or possible "analytical" artifacts) Kobeite-Y (Y: 1950) 04.DG.05, the original analytical determinations contain between 14.91% and 17.08% ZrO2 with only 1.99% and 1.59% SiO2 respectively. The chemical formula (IMA version: ) doesn't contain Zr. Pavel Kartashov: If no Zr and U>Th then euxenite group, polycrase If no Zr and U<Th then aeschynite group, priorite, blomastrandin. Divalent sulfide. Mackinawite (Y: 1963) 02.CC.25 (IMA formula: ()), sulfide anion (atoms per formula unit, apfu) might be too low due to analytical losses. Pseudo monovalent mercury, mindat.org changed the chemical formulas: there is mercury(II) and (dimercury) [Hg-Hg] now. Notes: Claraite (IMA2016-L, IMA1981-023) 05.DA.30 (IMA formula: Cu2+3CO3(OH)4·4H2O), but after U. Kolitsch it has essential As and S. Kolitsch, U. & Brandstätter, F. (2012): 1743) Baryt, Chalkophyllit und Clarait vom Pengelstein bei Kitzbühel, Tirol. P. 149. in Niedermayr, G. et al. (2012): Neue Mineralfunde aus Österreich LX. Carinthia II, 202./122., 123-180. Putz, H., Lechner, A. & Poeverlein, R. (2012): Erythrin und Clarait vom Pichlerstollen am Silberberg bei Rattenberg, Nordtirol. Lapis, 37 (1), 47-52; 62. New chemical formula: . Cosalite (Y: 1868) 02.JB.10 (IMA formula: Pb2Bi2S5). It might have copper as essential constituent (AM Clark, MH Hey (1993) Hey's mineral index: mineral species, varieties and synonyms), (). The general structural formula for cosalite can be expressed as: CuAgPbBiS20. Mayenite (IMA2013-C, IMA1963-016): it can not be found in nature. Mayenite (stabilized by moisture) can be found in cement industry chemistry. Chlormayenite can be found in nature.
Suspended (IMA status) (IMA2000-026) : IMA approval status is suspended, but it was incorrectly stated as approved in Grice, J.D. & Ferraris, G. (2001).IMA2000-026 (IMA1989-012), zhangpeishanite (of Shen), unnamed (cordylite-like ().IMA1989-012
Grandfathered (IMA valid species) Chrysocolla? (Theophrastus, 315 BC), it's suggested that it is mixture of spertiniite (Cu(OH)2) and chalcedony or opal, it has similarities with copper-bearing allophane. Loranskite-(Y) (Y: 1899) it might be a fictional mineral, the type material is probably a mixture of euxenite and zircon.
Rejected or discredited minerals
Possibly non-valid: bismutostibiconite, lazurite and lonsdaleite. ArsenosulvaniteD Probably colusite. Carbonate-apatites: Carbonate-rich fluorapatite (discredited 2008) 08.BN.05 Carbonate-rich hydroxylapatite (discredited 2008) 08.BN.05 ChelyabinskiteHQD (Y: 1988, rejected 1986) 07.DG.45 [no] Possibly identical to thaumasite. Churchite-(Nd)D (Y: 1983, IMA1987 s.p., IMA2015-C) 08.CJ.50 [no] DieneriteD (Y: 1944, discredited 2006) 02.?? It was reported as microinclusions in a sobolevite grain, Norilsk deposit (2006). Ferrorhodsite (spinel, linnaeite: IMA1996-047, discredited 2018) 02.DA.05 [no] Fluorarrojadite-(BaNa)N 08.BF.?? (IMA2005 s.p., red.) [no] [no] FoshallasiteD HeliophylliteD (Y: 1888) 03.DC.65 ImgreiteD (discredited 1968) [no] NatrofairchilditeD Probably nyerereite. Pseudo-autuniteD (Y: 1965) [no] SchirmeriteD (Y: 1874, redefined and discredited 2008) 02.JB.40d SpodiophylliteD (IMA1998 s.p.) Possibly a mica related to tainiolite: Canadian Mineralogist 36 (1998), 905. StrontioboriteD (Y: 1960) 06.FC.10 VondecheniteD (IMA2016-065) 03. WellsiteD [no] Either barian phillipsite-Ca or calcian harmotome. Zhonghuacerite-(Ce)D (Y: 1982) 05.BD.10 [no] Note: probably huanghoite-(Ce) or kukharenkoite-(Ce).
Errors and synonyms AnkangiteD (IMA1986-026) 04.DK.05 Synonym of mannardite (discredited in 2012: IMA 2011-F). AniyunwiyaiteD (IMA2018-054) 08. [no] [no] Synonym of kingsmountite. AnniviteD (tetrahedrite: IMA2018-K, IMA2008 s.p., 1854) 02. BasaluminiteD Synonym of felsőbányaite. BobdownsiteD (IMA2008-037, discredited 2017) 08.AC.45 [no] Synonym of merrillite. BrabantiteD (Y: 1981, discredited 2007) Synonym of cheralite. BrearleyiteD (IMA2013-C, IMA2010-062) 04.CC.20 [no] [no] Synonym of chlormayenite. CadmoxiteD (IMA2012-037) 04.AB.?? [no] [no] (IUPAC: Cadmium oxide) The type material is uraninite: CNMNC Newsletter No. 17, October 2013 ClinotyroliteD (Y: 1980) 8.DM.10 [no] Synonym of tangdanite. CobaltogordaiteD (IMA2015-K, IMA2014-043) 07.D?. [no] [no] Thérèsemagnanite got redefined, same as thérèsemagnanite now. CoeruleolactiteD (n/a) [no] Turquoise group, discredited 2006. Chromo-alumino-povondraite (IMA2009-088, IMA2013-089 with new type material) 09.CK.05 [no] [no] Former type material is chromdravite: CNMNC Newsletter No. 16, August 2013; Mineralogical Magazine, 77 (2013), 2695–2709. DiomigniteD (IMA2015-H, IMA1984-058a) 06.DD.05 Misidentification of zabuyelite.