Natural Science Forum / Earth Science / Mineralogy / July 2003

Add a 0 to that number, and you would be closer to the truth.  New
discoveries don't come too often, but they do occur.  Most are very rare,
obviously.

X-ray crystal/powder diffraction, electron microprobe, neutron bombardment,
wet chemical tests, mass spectroscopy, atomic absorption.  It depends on the
suspected mineral, and how much sample is available.

The number of known minerals is about 4000 according to the international
commission for mineral names (CNMMN-IMA). I don't exactly know what George
meant with that 30.000 would be closer to the truth, it is definitely NOT
the generally accepted thruth among scientists

Each year a couple of dozen new species are discovered, most of them as
microscopic inclusions and spots in other minerals.

I suppose there is an steady decrease in the number of new species
discovered every year.

If a mineral needs to be analyzed the common procedure nowadays would be
something like a microprobe or X-ray powder diagram. In addition chemical
tests can be necessary. There isn't much romantic about the discovery
itself. Most interesting is the long discussion whether a new mineral
substance that has been found indeed represents a new species. Many times it
turns out to be a variety of an already existing mineral, a micture of two
or more minerals or the data presented is not sufficient to conclude it
really is a new mineral.

Good luck!

-------------------------

curious

There are IMA rules (q.v.)

You should look at "fabulite", not as hard as diamond, but with such a
cute name and high refractive index!...

As for an inside glowing light, there are observations/anecdotes connected
with Pierre and Marie Curie about the glowing in the dark of their first
Ra salts.

Your characters are embarked in "a quest for fabulite with pure Ra inclusions."

J.J.

Thanks to everyone who responded.  This was very helpful.
Michael-Luc

There is a procedure for naming a new mineral, one can't just call it "Joes
New Mineral."  Well, one can, but for the name to be officially recognized,
it has be processed through the proper scientific organization, as has been
said.  Some minerals are named after famous people, mainly mineralogists or
geologists, some are named after a physical feature or color, some have
names derived from some language such as Latin, English, French, German, or
Russian.

Also, only a university, museum, geological survey company, or other large
company or institution would have the electron microprobe or X-ray
diffraction or other equipment, which is neither inexpensive or portable,
used to identify the chemical composition and atomic or molecular structure.

That reminds me of "The International Star Registry" a group which, for a
fee, will name a star, put the data and name in a book, and copyright it.
However, only the IAU, International Astronomical Union, can officially name
a star.  What the Registry does is find some obscure point of light in some
catalogue, and "name it."  Only the brightest stars have names while the
dimmer ones have catalogue numbers or a designation based on the location in
the heavens.  One can copyright virtually anything.  One could print up a
manuscript with, say, a hundred pages of "My Little Book" on each page, or
the persons name, or just gobblygook, and get it copyrighted.  All that
means is that no one else can publish a book with that name and information,
it does not insure accuracy or make it in any way an official document.