IMA Commission Newsletter 93 Outlines Updated Mineral Nomenclature

The International Mineralogical Association (IMA) released its newest communication from the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification – Newsletter 93. Published in the European Journal of Mineralogy (volume 38), pages 629–633, it was issued in 2026. The authors—Ferdinando Bosi, Frédéric Hatert, Marco Pasero, and Stuart J. Mills—outline recent changes to the rules governing how newly discovered minerals receive official names and how they are categorized within the global mineral taxonomy system ¹.

This edition follows a long tradition of periodic updates that keep the scientific community aligned on terminology and classification criteria. By setting clear standards, the IMA helps avoid duplicate naming, ensures consistency across research papers, and facilitates accurate database entries for both academic and industrial users.

The newsletter lists specific cases where previously proposed names were either accepted or rejected based on the revised criteria. While it does not enumerate each individual mineral, it provides examples illustrating how the new framework operates in practice. For instance, when evaluating whether a sample qualifies as a distinct species, reviewers must demonstrate reproducible crystallographic features alongside chemical analyses that fall outside established variability ranges.

Researchers referencing this bulletin will find an authoritative source for the latest nomenclature conventions, which is essential for ensuring that future studies cite minerals correctly and consistently. Moreover, the European Journal’s open‑access format allows geologists worldwide to consult the document without subscription barriers, thereby promoting wider adoption of the standardized rules.