To univocally identify mineral species on the basis of their formula, the IMA-CNMNC recommends the use of the dominant-valency rule and/or the site-total-charge approach, which can be considered two procedures complementary to each other for mineral identification. In this regard, several worked examples are provided in this study along with some simple suggestions for a more consistent terminology and a straightforward use of mineral formulae. IMA-CNMNC guidelines subordinate the mineral structure to the mineral chemistry in the hierarchical scheme adopted for classification. Indeed, a contradiction appears when we first classify mineral species to form classes (based on their chemistry) and subsequently we group together them to form supergroups (based on their structure topology): To date, more than half of recognized mineral supergroups include species with different anions or anionic complexes. This observation is in contrast to the current use of chemical composition as the distinguishing factor at the highest level of mineral classification.

On the chemical identification and classification of minerals / Bosi, F.; Biagioni, C.; Oberti, R.. - In: MINERALS. - ISSN 2075-163X. - 9:10(2019). [10.3390/min9100591]

On the chemical identification and classification of minerals

Bosi F.
;
2019

Abstract

To univocally identify mineral species on the basis of their formula, the IMA-CNMNC recommends the use of the dominant-valency rule and/or the site-total-charge approach, which can be considered two procedures complementary to each other for mineral identification. In this regard, several worked examples are provided in this study along with some simple suggestions for a more consistent terminology and a straightforward use of mineral formulae. IMA-CNMNC guidelines subordinate the mineral structure to the mineral chemistry in the hierarchical scheme adopted for classification. Indeed, a contradiction appears when we first classify mineral species to form classes (based on their chemistry) and subsequently we group together them to form supergroups (based on their structure topology): To date, more than half of recognized mineral supergroups include species with different anions or anionic complexes. This observation is in contrast to the current use of chemical composition as the distinguishing factor at the highest level of mineral classification.
2019
classification; dominant-valency rule; end-member formula; IMA-CNMNC; mineral supergroup; nomenclature; site-total-charge approach
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
On the chemical identification and classification of minerals / Bosi, F.; Biagioni, C.; Oberti, R.. - In: MINERALS. - ISSN 2075-163X. - 9:10(2019). [10.3390/min9100591]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Bosi_On the chemical_2019.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 241.38 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
241.38 kB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1340998
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 35
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 32
social impact