Nomenclature of Amphiboles: Report of the Subcommittee on Amphiboles of the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names

Bernard E. Leake, Alan R. Woolley, C. E. S. Arps^*, W. D. Birch^*, M. C. Gilbert, J. D. Grice, F. C. Hawthorne, A. Kato, H. J. Kisch, V. G. Krivovichev, K. Linthout, J. Laird, J. Mandarino^*, W. V. Maresch, E. H. Nickel^*, N. M. S. Rock, J. C. Schumacher, D. C. Smith, N. C. N. Stephenson, L. Ungaretti, E. J. W. Whittaker and G. Youzhi

Department of Geology and Applied Geology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow GI2 8QQ, UK
Department of Mineralogy, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
The Netherlands
Australia
USA
Mineral Sciences Division, Canadian Museum of Nature, PO Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIP 6P4.
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
Department of Geology, Natural Science Museum, 2-23-1 Hyakanin-cho, Shinjuka, Tokyo 160, Japan
Department of Geology and Mineralogy, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, PO Box 653, Israel
Faculty of Geology, St Petersburg University, University Em. 7/9, 199034 St Petersburg, Russia
Department of Ore Geology, Petrology and Mineralogy, Institute of Earth Sciences, Free University, Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Earth Sciences, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
Canada
Institute for Mineralogy, Westfalische Wilhelms, University of Munster, Correnstrasse 24, D4400 Munster, Germany
Australia
Australia
Institut für Mineralogie-Petrologie-Geochemie, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg i. Br., 79104 Germany
France
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia
Italy
60, Exeter Road, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 2DZ, U.K.
Central Laboratory, Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Hunnan Province, Dashiba, Kunming, P.R. China.

^*Indicates a non-voting official of the CNMMN.

Abstract: The International Mineralogical Association's approved amphibole nomenclature has been revised in order to simplify it, make it more consistent with divisions generally at 50%, define prefixes and modifiers more precisely and include new amphibole species discovered and named since 1978, when the previous scheme was approved. The same reference axes form the basis of the new scheme and most names are little changed but compound species names like tremolitic hornblende (now magnesiohornblende) are abolished and also crossite (now glaucophane or ferroglaucophane or magnesioriebeckite or riebeckite), tirodite (now manganocummingtonite) and dannemorite (now manganogrunerite). The 50% rule has been broken only to retain tremolite and actinolite as in the 1978 scheme so the sodic calcic amphibole range has therefore been expanded. Alkali amphiboles are now sodic amphiboles. The use of hyphens is defined. New amphibole names approved since 1978 include nyböite, leakeite, kornite, ungarettiite, sadanagaite and cannilloite. All abandoned names are listed. The formulae and source of the amphibole end member names are listed and procedures outlined to calculate Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ when not determined by analysis.