GO 336 Mineralogy
Earth Science Department
Emporia State University
Earth Science Department
Emporia State University
Susan Ward Aber
One of the first assignment in mineralogy was to determine how many mineral species are known to exist today. This assignment resulted in a variety of answers, which were dependent upon the source. One student reported that 232 minerals were known according to the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals. Another student found three conflicting numbers, 4170 valid mineral species listed and described, complete to the end of 2004, and with more than 80% of these (nearly 3400 different species) according to http://www.excaliburmineral.com/cdintro.htm and just over 4,000 according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral.
Another student stated, approximately 3,000 exist in nature and he cited Jessy, David and Don Tarman, Mineral Identification: The Beauty of Nature, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, http://geology.csuponona.edu/. Two students reported 4,442 from Barthelmy, David. The Mineral Database. 2000. 24 Aug 2005. http://webmineral.com as of April 7, 2005.
One student found http://www.geo.vu.nl/users/ima-cnmmn/, which stated over 4,000 (click on IMA list of minerals). Another was not satisfied when she found two different figures online, 4073 minerals or mineraloids recognized from http://www.mindat.org (1993-2005) and 4124 valid species from http://www.webmineral.com (Mineralogy Database, 2000-2005). She e-mailed Ernst Burke, International Mineralogical Association - Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (IMA-CNMMN) chairman, and he stated that accepted minerals was not a term the commission knows and according to their organization there are several categories that reflect the status of a mineral (Ernst Burke, personal communication, 8/24/2005). Ernst said that, the commission regularly states that there are about 4000 valid minerals (Burke, 2005).
So there you have it! Although the students found differing numbers, it is safe to say on September 19, 2006 over 4,000 unique mineral or mineral names are known and approved!
This page originates from the Earth Science department for the use and benefit of students enrolled at Emporia State University. The curriculum is © by the author, 2005-2006. For more information contact the course instructor, S. W. Aber, e-mail: saber@emporia.edu Thanks for visiting! Created: 26 August, 2005; latest update: 19 September, 2006.
copyright 2005-2006 © Susan Ward Aber. All rights reserved.