Recently, the international research group led by Academician Hou Zengqian obtained formal approval from the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA-CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association for the establishment of a classification naming scheme for the carbon strontium cerium mineral superfamily. "This is the first mineral superfamily classification naming system led by a Chinese research team," explained Deputy Director of the Chinese New Mineral and Mineral Naming Professional Committee, Gu Xiangping.
The carbon strontium cerium mineral superfamily comprises hydrated rare earth carbonate minerals. Rare earth elements, due to their unique physical and chemical properties, are widely used in fields such as new energy, new materials, energy conservation and environmental protection, aerospace, and electronics, making them indispensable in modern industry.
International peers believe that the establishment of the carbon strontium cerium mineral superfamily not only clarifies the chemical formula, classification boundaries, and naming principles of this mineral superfamily but also conveys important mineralogical chemical information to crystallographers and mineralogists. Additionally, it can provide new references for the study of the migration and precipitation mechanisms of rare earth elements in alkaline rocks and carbonate rocks.
The first author of the naming scheme, doctoral student Wang Yanjuan from China University of Geosciences (Beijing), explained that the discovery of new minerals and the naming of mineral classifications are important basic research in the field of geology. Scientific classification naming schemes can provide international standard specifications for human understanding of complex mineral systems and how minerals are classified. So far, there are 34 mineral superfamilies officially approved and recognized by IMA-CNMNC, with 31 independent mineral families.
"For a long time, research on establishing mineral superfamily classification naming schemes has been monopolized by Western countries. The establishment of the carbon strontium cerium mineral superfamily has elevated the level of basic research in mineralogy in China and its international influence," said Wang Yanjuan.
