IMA Commission Published Newsletter 93 on New Mineral Nomenclature

The International Mineralogical Association’s Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) released its newest bulletin—Newsletter 93—on Friday, 16 October 2026.¹ The document appears in the European Journal of Mineralogy, Volume 38, pages 629–633, and is authored by Ferdinando Bosi, Frédéric Hatert, Marco Pasero, and Stuart J. Mills. It details the commission’s most recent decisions regarding new mineral species, their proposed names, and updated classification criteria that will guide future nomenclatural work across the global mineral‑science community.

This issue follows a long tradition of CNMNC newsletters serving as the primary conduit for communicating official changes to mineral definitions. Each edition typically lists newly approved minerals, outlines any revisions to existing taxonomic frameworks, and provides guidance on how to apply these rules when evaluating potential new species. In Newsletter 93, the authors report on several key developments, including the formal acceptance of multiple previously disputed mineral candidates and refinements to the criteria used to assess whether an observed crystallographic structure constitutes a distinct species rather than a polymorph or solid solution member.

Bosi, Hatert, Pasero, and Mills are senior members of the commission who oversee the review process; they coordinate with peer reviewers and external experts to ensure each proposal meets rigorous scientific standards before it reaches final approval status. Their collective expertise spans petrology, crystal chemistry, and geochemical modeling—fields essential for interpreting subtle differences in mineral composition that can have significant implications for ore‑deposit exploration and geological mapping.

The newsletter also highlights updates to the IMA’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) concerning data submission formats, required analytical evidence, and documentation guidelines. These procedural clarifications aim to streamline the evaluation workflow, reduce ambiguity in case reports, and promote consistency among researchers submitting new mineral claims worldwide. The revised SOPs emphasize the importance of high‑resolution diffraction data, comprehensive chemical analyses, and clear differentiation from known analogues—a reflection of the community’s ongoing commitment to precision and reproducibility.

Although this bulletin does not introduce any entirely novel mineral species, its significance lies in consolidating recent decisions into a single reference point. Researchers across academia and industry will use it to verify current accepted names, avoid duplication, and align their own taxonomic proposals with established standards. For gemologists, accurate naming is crucial when cataloguing rare gemstones or assessing potential market values; for geoscientists, consistent terminology underpins comparative studies of ore‑forming environments and tectonic histories.

In sum, CNMNC Newsletter 93 provides a concise yet authoritative snapshot of the commission’s latest activities—an essential resource for anyone engaged in mineral discovery, documentation, or application. The publication underscores the IMA’s role as steward of mineralogical knowledge and reaffirms the collaborative nature of scientific progress within the field.