Jeffrey de Fourestier, Marco E. Ciriotti, YANG Zhu-ming
(1. Mineralogical research and consulting, Gatineau, QC J9H 4H3, Canada;
2. Associazione Micro-mineralogica Italiana, via San Pietro 55, I-10073 Devesi-Cirié (TO), Italy;
3. Key Laboratory of Engineering Geomechanics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, Beijing 100029, China)

Abstract: The Subcommittee on Unnamed Minerals of the IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification developed a system to codify for published but unnamed minerals. There are two main groups. “Valid” unnamed minerals do not correspond to known species but their published description would allow them to be recognised if they were discovered at different localities or in another better sample. “Invalid” unnamed minerals already correspond to known species or the published description would not allow for recognition elsewhere with an acceptable degree of confidence. A list of these minerals is maintained by the IMA. The system provides for a permanent UM number but also allows for a temporary number coding system that should be adopted to be used until a UM number can be assigned. The vastness and importance of the Chinese mineralogical literature necessitates a summary in the Chinese language.

Key words: unnamed minerals; codification system; International Mineralogical Association; Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification; Subcommittee on Unnamed Minerals; Chinese

E-mail:fu_xiaotu@yahoo.ca

ACTA MINERALOGICA SINICA Vol. 35, No. 2, 2015, Page 276